2011 Green Bay Packers season

The 2011 Green Bay Packers season is the franchise's 91st season in the National Football League, the 93rd season overall and the sixth under head coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers hope to repeat as Super Bowl Champions after their 31–25 victory in Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Offseason
After finishing the 2010 regular season with a 10–6 record, the Packers went 4–0 in the postseason en route to winning Super Bowl XLV. As a result the Packers received the final selection (32nd) in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Additions

 * On July 28, WR Diondre Borel, S Anthony Bratton, G/T Ray Dominguez, WR Tori Gurley, S M.D. Jennings, LB Ricky Elmore, C Sampson Genus, WR Shaky Smithson, FB John Hoese, LB Jamari Lattimore, DE Eli Joseph, LB Vic So'oto, CB Brandian Ross, RB Brandon Saine, and WR Kerry Taylor were signed to a contract as undrafted free agents.
 * On July 29, LB Elijah Joseph and NT Chris Donaldson were signed to contract as undrafted free agents.
 * On August 3, LB K.C. Asiodu was signed to a contract.
 * On September 4, QB Graham Harrell, RB Brandon Saine, WR Diondre Borel, WR Chastin West, G/T Ray Dominguez, CB Brandian Ross, C Sampson Genus and WR Tori Gurley were signed to the practice squad a day after they were all cut from the active roster and cleared waivers.

Departures

 * On March 2, LB A. J. Hawk, TE Donald Lee and S Derrick Martin were released. Hawk was resigned the following day.
 * On July 27, LB Nick Barnett, LB Brandon Chillar, DE Justin Harrell, LB Brady Poppinga and T Mark Tauscher were released. S Michael Greco and LB Curtis Young were waived.
 * On August 15, LB Diyral Briggs was released.
 * On August 28, TE Spencer Havner, WR Brett Swain, and T Theo Sherman were released.
 * On August 30, WR Antonio Robinson, LB K.C. Asiodu, and G Adrian Battles were released.
 * On September 3, WR Diondre Borel, S Anthony Bratton, T Chris Campbell, G/T Ray Dominguez, NT Chris Donaldson, WR Tori Gurley, S Anthony Levine, LB Ricky Elmore, C Sampson Genus, CB Josh Gordy, QB Graham Harrell, FB Jon Hoese, LB Cardia Jackson, DE Eli Joseph, LB Elijah Joseph, C/G Nick McDonald, RB Dimitri Nance, CB Brandian Ross, NT Jay Ross, RB Brandon Saine, WR Kerry Taylor, WR Chastin West, and S/CB Brandon Underwood were released.
 * On September 3, FB Quinn Johnson was traded to the Tennessee Titans for an undisclosed draft pick.
 * On September 3, G Caleb Schlauderaff was traded to the New York Jets for an undisclosed draft pick.

Training Camp and Preseason Injuries

 * On September 3, DE Lawrence Guy and WR Shaky Smithson were placed on injured reserve.

Coaching Changes

 * On February 11, Wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to become their Assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.
 * On February 21, Assistant strength and conditioning coach Dave Redding retired.
 * On February 22, Zac Woodfin was named Assistant strength and conditioning coach.
 * On February 25, Running backs coach Edgar Bennett was moved to Wide receiver coach, Offensive line assistant Jerry Fontenot was promoted to Running backs coach, offensive quality control coach John Rushing was promoted to a combined role of assistant wide receivers coach-special teams coach and hired Joel Hilgenberg as offensive quality control coach.

Regular Season Transactions

 * On September 20, WR Chastin West was signed off the practice squad by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
 * On September 21, NT/DE Johnny Jones was signed to the practice squad.
 * On October 12, G/T Ray Dominguez was signed to the active roster from the practice squad and S Nick Collins was placed on injured reserve.
 * On October 13, C/G Cecil Newton was signed to the practice squad.

Regular season

 * Indicates that the game time is subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling.

Week 1: vs. New Orleans Saints
With their Super Bowl XLV championship title to defend, the Green Bay Packers began their 2011 campaign against the previous champion (Super Bowl XLIV champion), the New Orleans Saints in the annual NFL Kickoff Game. Green Bay delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter as reigning Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers found wide receiver Greg Jennings on a 7-yard touchdown pass, followed by wide receiver Jordy Nelson on a 3-yard touchdown pass. The Saints answered with quarterback Drew Brees completing a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Meachem, yet the Packers came right back with Rodgers hooking up rookie wide receiver Randall Cobb on a 32-yard touchdown pass. New Orleans crawled their way back in the second quarter as kicker John Kasay got a 30-yard field goal, followed by running back Darren Sproles returning a punt 72 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, Green Bay struck back with a 17-yard touchdown run from running back James Starks.

The Saints led off the third quarter with Kasay making a 38-yard field goal, yet the Packers' dominating night continued with Cobb returning a kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown. However, New Orleans continued to hang around with Brees completing a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Devery Henderson. In the fourth quarter, Green Bay kept imposing their will with a 1-yard touchdown run from fullback John Kuhn. The Saints tried to rally as Brees completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jimmy Graham, yet the Packers' defense held on with a goal line stand as time expired to preserve the victory.

With the win, Green Bay began their season 1–0 and will visit Carolina next Sunday. Meanwhile New Orleans dropped to 0-1 and will host Chicago next Sunday.

Week 2: at Carolina Panthers
The Green Bay Packers hung on to beat the Carolina Panthers, 30–23, in front of 73,167 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. QB Aaron Rodgers completed 19 of 30 passes for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns, FB John Kuhn rushed for another, and K Mason Crosby converted 3 of 3 field goals (37, 19, 34) in the win for the Packers. The Packers improved to 2–0 on the season in their quest of repeating as Super Bowl Champions. The win was a costly one though, as three-time Pro Bowl FS Nick Collins was lost for the season with a neck injury.

Panthers QB Cam Newton threw for 432 yards, threw a touchdown, and rushed for a score in his second career NFL start. Newton was intercepted 3 times though on the day, 2 of which by Packers CB Charles Woodson who also recovered a fumble for Green Bay defensively. Carolina fell to 0–2 on the season.

Week 3: at Chicago Bears
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears met at Soldier Field for the first time since the 2010-11 NFC Championship Game earlier this year, when the Packers defeated the Bears 21–14, which allowed Green Bay to advance to and eventually win Super Bowl XLV. This game was much of the same as the defending Super Bowl Champions went into Chicago and left with another 'W', this time 27–17. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers connected with TE Jermichael Finley 3 times on touchdown completions of 6, 7, & 10 yards. Rodgers was crisp and efficient, improving to 6–2 against Chicago in his career. He finished the day completing 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception. Rodgers leads the NFL in passer rating (120.9) and completion percentage (71.8%) through the first three weeks of the 2011 NFL season. WR Greg Jennings had a solid effort, hauling in a career-high 9 receptions for 119 yards and the aforementioned Finley caught 7 passes for 85 yards to go along with his 3 touchdowns. RB Ryan Grant showed flashes of his 2009 form prior to a season-ending ankle injury in 2010. He rushed the ball 17 times for 92 yards, a 5.4 per carry average. For Chicago, QB Jay Cutler had another up and down game against Green Bay. He completed 21 of 37 passes for 302 yards and 2 touchdowns, but threw 2 costly interceptions to Packers SS Morgan Burnett. Bears standout RB Matt Forte was held in check all day as he was only able to gain 2 yards on 9 carries.

Green Bay remains undefeated at 3–0 with the win and returns home for a contest with the Denver Broncos next Sunday. With the loss, Chicago drops to 1–2 on the early season and 2 games behind both division leaders, Green Bay and Detroit. They remain at home for a game with the up and coming Carolina Panthers next Sunday.

Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
The Green Bay Packers returned to Lambeau Field for the first time since their victory in the NFL opening kickoff game on September 8th and continued their early season success by defeating the visiting Denver Broncos, 49–23. The Packers jumped out to an early lead, as they led 21–3 with 12:18 remaining in the 2nd quarter. The Broncos countered with two straight touchdowns to cut the Packer lead to 21–17, but the Packers responded by scoring 28 unanswered points to win in blowout fashion. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had a career day, completing 29 of 38 (76.3%) passes for a career-high 408 yards. He threw 4 touchdowns (one to each WR Jordy Nelson, WR Greg Jennings, WR James Jones, and WR Donald Driver) and an interception. Rodgers showed his versatility by rushing for scores of 11 and 8 yards as well. WR Greg Jennings caught 7 passes for 103 yards to go along with his touchdown and RB James starked added 63 yards rushing and 38 yards receiving. On defense, the Packers forced 4 turnovers (3 INT and 1 FF), most notably an interception by CB Charles Woodson in the first quarter returned 30 yards for a touchdown. Broncos QB Kyle Orton threw for 273 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in the loss.

The loss dropped Denver to 1–3. They return home to take on AFC West-leading San Diego next Sunday. Green Bay (4–0) remained 1 of 2 unbeaten teams (Detroit) through the first 4 weeks of the 2011 NFL season. The Packers go on the road next week to take on the Atlanta Falcons on primetime, Sunday Night Football. It will be a rematch of an NFC Divisional game from the 2010–11 NFL Playoffs, a game won 48–21 by Green Bay en route to winning Super Bowl XLV.

Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons
The Green Bay Packers beat the Atlanta Falcons, 25–14, in a matchup at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA in the NFL week 5 edition of Sunday Night Football. The Falcons received the opening kickoff and took the ball 80 yards in just under 7 minutes to jump out to an early 7–0 lead on a QB Matt Ryan to WR Roddy White touchdown connection. On the insuing possesion, Green Bay drove into Atlanta territory but Atlanta CB Brent Grimes forced a fumble from Green Bay RB Ryan Grant. The Falcons once again took the ball down the field for a touchdown, this time on a RB Michael Turner 1 yard run, and with just over 12 minutes remaining in the second quarter, Atlanta led 14–0. Green Bay cut the lead to 14–6 at the half on a pair of second quarter field goals by K Mason Crosby. In the second half it was all about the Green Bay defense which posted a shutout in the final 42 minutes of the game. Midway through the third quarter, Crosby boomed a 56 yarder to cut it to 14–9. Then after a stand by the Packer defense, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers hooked up with WR James Jones on a 70 yard touchdown that put the Packers ahead for good 15–14 (failed 2-pt conv.). On the first play of the fourth quarter Rodgers went to work again and hooked up with WR Greg Jennings on a 29 yard touchdown and Crosby added his fourth field goal with 1:10 remaining to seal it for the visiting Packers.

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers completed 26 of 39 passes for 396 yards and 2 TD's to lead the offense and remain the early season favorite for MVP. Atlanta QB Matt Ryan struggled, completing 18 of 32 passes for 167 yards, with a TD and 2 INT (by S Charlie Peprah & CB Jarrett Bush). With the win, Green Bay improved to 5–0 as the defending Super Bowl Champions went to Atlanta and dealt them another defeat at home. This coming off a decisive 48–21 Green Bay victory in last years NFC divisional round, also in Atlanta. The Falcons drop to 2–3 with the loss and host the Carolina Panthers next Sunday. Green Bay returns to Lambeau Field to take on the winless St. Louis Rams.

Week 6: vs. St. Louis Rams


Regular season statistical leaders
stats are correct through Week 4.