NFL team season
The 2011 season was the St. Louis Rams' 74th in the National Football League (NFL), their 17th in St. Louis, and their third and final season under head coach Steve Spagnuolo. They finished with a 2–14 record, a failure to improve on their 7–9 record from 2010. The day after the season finale, head coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney were fired from the team.
The Rams' offense was among the worst in the league in 2011. They scored only 193 points (12.1 points per game), last in the league, and 11th-fewest all-time for a 16-game season. Their −214-point differential was last in the league.
Football Outsiders ranked St. Louis the worst team in the league, per play, in 2011. The 2012 Football Outsiders Almanac, however, noted that the Rams went from the league's easiest schedule in 2010 to the league's hardest schedule in 2011.
With their 2–14 record, the Rams capped a stretch from 2007 to 2011 in which they went 15–65, setting a new mark for the worst five-season span in NFL history. This mark has since been matched by the Cleveland Browns of 2013 to 2017. To date, this is the last season with the Rams getting at most two victories. As of 2022, the 2011 Rams are the most recent team to finish a season scoring less than 200 points.
Offseason
Coaching changes
On January 18, the Rams hired former Denver Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniels as the team's new offensive coordinator, replacing Pat Shurmur, who became the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns five days earlier (January 13).
Draft
Main article: 2011 NFL draft
- The Rams traded its sixth-round selection (#145 overall) to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for the Falcons' sixth-round selection (#158 overall) and their seventh-round selection (#229 overall).
- The Rams traded its sixth-round selection (#180 overall) to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for the Ravens' seventh-round selection (#228 overall) and WR Mark Clayton.
Staff
| St. Louis Rams 2011 staff
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Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Coaching assistants
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Final roster
Preseason
Schedule
The Rams' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week One: Philadelphia Eagles at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles |
14 |
3 |
7 | 7 | 31 |
| Rams |
7 |
3 |
3 | 0 | 13 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- STL – Josh Brown 49-yard field goal (PHI 14–10)
- PHI – Alex Henery 34-yard field goal (PHI 17–10)
Third quarter
- PHI – DeSean Jackson 6-yard TD pass from Michael Vick, Alex Henery kick (PHI 24–10)
- STL – Josh Brown 23-yard field goal (PHI 24–13)
Fourth quarter
- PHI – LeSean McCoy 49-yard TD run, Alex Henery kick (PHI 31–13)
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Top passers
- PHI – Michael Vick: 14/32 187 Yds, 2 TD, 11 Rush, 97 Yds
- STL – Sam Bradford: 17/30 188 Yds
Top rushers
- PHI – LeSean McCoy: 15 Att, 122 Yds, 1 Rush TD, 2 Rec, 15 Yds, 1 Rec TD
- STL – Carnell Williams: 19 Att, 91 Yds, 5 Rec, 49 Yds
Top receivers
- PHI – DeSean Jackson: 6 Rec, 102 Yds, 1 TD
- STL – Brandon Gibson: 3 Rec, 50 Yds
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Rams started the season 0–1.
Week 2: at New York Giants
Week Two: St. Louis Rams at New York Giants – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
6 |
0 |
10 | 0 | 16 |
| Giants |
7 |
14 |
7 | 0 | 28 |
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
| Game information
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First quarter
- STL Josh Brown 21-yard FG (9–84, 3:19) (STL 3-0)
- NYG Nicks 3-yard pass from Manning (Tynes kick) (5–38, 2:17) (NYG 7-3)
- STL Brown 25-yard FG (10–67, 2:26) (NYG 7-6)
Second quarter
- NYG Boley 65-yard fumble return (Tynes kick) (NYG 14-6)
- NYG Hixon 22-yard pass from Manning (Tynes kick) (8–86, 2:37) (NYG 21-6)
Third quarter
- STL Brown 27-yard FG (8–60, 3:11) (NYG 21-9)
- NYG Jacobs 9-yard run (Tynes kick) (10–81, 5:30) (NYG 28-9)
- STL Alexander 19-yard pass from Bradford (Brown kick) (13–72, 5:01) (NYG 28-16)
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Top passers
- STL – Sam Bradford – 22/46, 331 YDS, TD
- NYG – Eli Manning – 18/29, 200 YDS, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Rams fell to 0–2.
Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week Three: Baltimore Ravens at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Ravens |
21 |
6 |
3 | 7 | 37 |
| Rams |
0 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
| Game information
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First quarter
- BAL – Torrey Smith 74 yd. pass from Joe Flacco (Billy Cundiff kick), Ravens 7–0
- BAL – Torrey Smith 41 yd. pass from Joe Flacco (Billy Cundiff kick), Ravens 14–0
- BAL – Torrey Smith 18 yd. pass from Joe Flacco (Billy Cundiff kick), Ravens 21–0
Second quarter
- BAL – Billy Cundiff 21 yd. Field Goal, Ravens 24–0
- BAL – Billy Cundiff 31 yd. Field Goal, Ravens 27–0
Third quarter
- BAL – Billy Cundiff 38 yd. Field Goal, Ravens 30–0
- STL – Brandon Gibson 34 yd. pass from Sam Bradford (Josh Brown kick), Ravens 30–7
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Haloti Ngata 28 yd. fumble return, Ravens 37–7
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Top passers
- BAL – Joe Flacco – 27/48, 389 yards, 3 touchdowns
- STL – Sam Bradford – 16/32, 166 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Top rushers
- BAL – Ray Rice – 9 carries, 81 yards
- STL – Carnell Williams – 18 carries, 75 yards
Top receivers
- BAL – Anquan Bolden – 7 receptions, 74 yards
- STL – Brandon Gibson – 5 receptions, 55 yards, 1 touchdown
Top tacklers
- BAL – Ray Lewis – 10 tackles
- STL – Bradley Fletcher – 6 tackles
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With the loss, the Rams fell to 0–3.
Week 4: vs. Washington Redskins
Week Four: Washington Redskins at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins |
7 |
7 |
3 | 0 | 17 |
| Rams |
0 |
0 |
0 | 10 | 10 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: October 2
- Game time: 12:00 pm. CDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 56,113
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers & Tim Ryan
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Rams went into their bye week at 0–4.
Week 6: at Green Bay Packers
Week Six: St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
0 |
3 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
| Packers |
3 |
21 |
0 | 0 | 24 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 12:00 pm. CDT
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 70,604
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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Coming off of their bye week in week 5, the Rams traveled to Lambeau Field to take on the undefeated Packers. The loss dropped the team to 0–5.
Week 7: at Dallas Cowboys
Week Seven: St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
0 |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
| Cowboys |
7 |
10 |
3 | 14 | 34 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Rams dropped to 0–6.
Week 8: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Eight: New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints |
0 |
0 |
7 | 14 | 21 |
| Rams |
0 |
17 |
7 | 7 | 31 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 12:00 pm. CDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 57,179
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- STL – Josh Brown 38-yard field goal. Rams 3–0. Drive: 14 plays, 68 yards, 5:41.
- STL – Steven Jackson 3-yard run (Josh Brown kick). Rams 10–0. Drive: 2 plays, 15 yards, 0:26.
- STL – Brandon Lloyd 8-yard pass from A. J. Feeley (Josh Brown kick). Rams 17–0. Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 0:41.
Third quarter
- STL – Steven Jackson 3-yard run (Josh Brown kick). Rams 24–0. Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards, 5:44.
- NO – Jonathan Vilma fumble recovery in the end zone (John Kasay kick). Saints 7–24.
Fourth quarter
- NO – Pierre Thomas 3-yard run (J. Kasay kick). Saints 14–24. Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 4:45.
- STL – Darian Stewart 27-yard interception return (Josh Brown kick). Rams 31–14.
- NO – Lance Moore 8-yard pass from Drew Brees (John Kasay kick). Saints 21–31. Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards, 2:45.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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This home game for the team also had a celebration of the St. Louis Cardinals showing off the World Series trophy. The Rams would then go on to win this game and improve to 1–6.
Week 9: at Arizona Cardinals
Week Nine: St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Rams |
3 |
6 |
4 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Cardinals |
3 |
0 |
3 | 7 | 6 | 19 |
at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 3:15 pm. CST/2:15 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 60,628
- Referee: Ron Winter
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen and Chad Pennington
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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The game featured the Rams' scoring the four points in the third quarter as they got two safeties on consecutive drives. This was first time in NFL history that a team had recorded four points in a quarter.
With the loss, the Rams fell to 1–7 and last place in the NFC West.
Week 10: at Cleveland Browns
Week Ten: St. Louis Rams at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
0 |
10 |
0 | 3 | 13 |
| Browns |
3 |
6 |
3 | 0 | 12 |
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the close win, the Rams improved to 2–7.
Week 11: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks |
0 |
10 |
7 | 7 | 24 |
| Rams |
7 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 3:05 pm. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 56,400
- Referee: Carl Cheffers
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan and Jaime Maggio
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- SEA – Marshawn Lynch 3-yard run (Steven Hauschka kick), 5:58 (SEA 17–7)
Fourth quarter
- SEA – Justin Forsett 22-yard run (Steven Hauschka kick), 4:21 (SEA 24–7)
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
- Team – pass – rush – total – to
- SEA – 126 – 163 – 289 – 2
- STL – 143 – 42 – 185 – 3
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With the loss, the Rams dropped to 2–8.
Week 12: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week Twelve: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals |
3 |
0 |
17 | 3 | 23 |
| Rams |
7 |
3 |
0 | 10 | 20 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Rams dropped to 2–9 securing them their 5th straight losing season.
Week 13: at San Francisco 49ers
Week Thirteen: St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| 49ers |
3 |
6 |
10 | 7 | 26 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 3:15 pm. CST/1:15 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C) (Sunny)
- Game attendance: 69,732
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers and Tim Ryan
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- SF – David Akers 19-yard field goal, 49ers 6–0.
- SF – David Akers 28-yard field goal, 49ers 9–0.
Third quarter
- SF – Michael Crabtree 52-yard pass from Alex Smith (David Akers kick), 49ers 16–0.
- SF – David Akers 34-yard field goal, 49ers 19–0.
Fourth quarter
- SF – Kyle Williams 56-yard pass from Alex Smith (David Akers kick), 49ers 26–0.
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Top passers
- STL – A.J. Feeley – 12/22, 156 yards, 1 interception
- SF – Alex Smith – 17/23, 274 yards, 2 touchdown
Top rushers
- STL – Steven Jackson – 10 carries, 19 yards
- SF – Frank Gore – 21 carries, 73 yards
Top receivers
- STL – Brandon Gibson – 4 catches, 42 yards
- SF – Michael Crabtree – 4 catches, 96 yards, 1 touchdown
Top tacklers
- STL – Craig Dehl – 11 tackles, 2 assists
- SF – NaVarro Bowman – 6 tackles
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With the loss, the Rams fell to 2–10.
Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks
Week Fourteen: St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
0 |
3 |
3 | 7 | 13 |
| Seahawks |
10 |
0 |
10 | 10 | 30 |
at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
- Date: December 12
- Game time: 7:30 pm. CST/5:30 pm. PST
- Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C) (Clear)
- Game attendance: 66,577
- Referee: Bill Leavy
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, Jon Gruden and Rachel Nichols
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- STL – Josh Brown 46-yard field goal, 11:04 (SEA 10–3)
Third quarter
- SEA – Steven Hauschka 23-yard field goal, 12:03 (SEA 13–3)
- STL – Josh Brown 29-yard field goal, 1:49 (SEA 13–6)
- SEA – Doug Baldwin 29-yard pass from Tarvaris Jackson (Steven Hauschka kick), 0:06 (SEA 20–6)
Fourth quarter
- SEA – Steven Hauschka 28-yard field goal, 8:27 (SEA 23–6)
- STL – Steven Jackson 1-yard run (Josh Brown kick), 4:39 (SEA 23–13)
- SEA – Marshawn Lynch 16-yard run (Steven Hauschka kick), 2:57 (SEA 30–13)
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
- Team – pass – rush – total – to
- STL – 167 – 114 – 281 – 1
- SEA – 214 – 145 – 359 – 1
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With the loss, the Rams fell to 2–11 and were swept by the Seahawks for the first time since 2009.
Week 15: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week Fifteen: Cincinnati Bengals at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals |
3 |
0 |
10 | 7 | 20 |
| Rams |
0 |
6 |
0 | 7 | 13 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 12:00 pm. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 56,431
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Rams fell to 2–12.
Week 16: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Sixteen: St. Louis Rams at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams |
0 |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steelers |
3 |
7 |
3 | 14 | 27 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: December 24
- Game time: 1:00 pm. EST/12:00 pm. CST
- Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C) (Cloudy)
- Game attendance: 60,081
- Referee: Clete Blakeman
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton & John Lynch
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- Steelers 10–0 – John Clay 10 Yard Run (Shaun Suisham Kick) (6:50)
Third quarter
- Steelers 13–0 – Shaun Suisham 49 Yard Field Goal (9:19)
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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This game became the Steelers' 2nd shutout win of the season as the Rams dropped to 2–13.
Week 17: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Seventeen: San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers |
7 |
13 |
7 | 7 | 34 |
| Rams |
7 |
0 |
3 | 17 | 27 |
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: January 1
- Game time: 12:00 pm. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 55,990
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Tim Ryan, & Jaime Maggio
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
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With the loss, the Rams finished the season at 2–14 tied with the Colts for the league's worst record.
Standings
Notes and references
- Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1978 to 2012, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For.
- Pro-Football-Reference: In a single season, in 2011, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points Differential
- Football Outsiders: Final 2011 DVOA Ratings
- Football Outsiders Almanac 2012 (ISBN 978-1-4782-0152-6), p.216-217: "In 2011, St. Louis became the first person in (1991–2011) to go from the easiest schedule one season to the hardest schedule the next."
- "Shurmur Named Head Coach of Cleveland Browns". therams.com. January 13, 2011. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- "Rams Name McDaniels Offensive Coordinator". therams.com. January 18, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
- "NFL cancels Bears-Rams Hall of Fame Game". Chicago Bears. July 21, 2011. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
- King, Peter (November 7, 2011). "Super deja vu for Manning, Giants in clutch win over Patriots". Sports Illustrated. Monday Morning QB. p. 3. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
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| Wild card berths (9) |
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