The 2011 Dallas Cowboys season was the team's 52nd season in the National Football League , the third playing their home games at Cowboys Stadium and the first full season under head coach Jason Garrett . The team improved on their 6–10 record from 2010 , but failed to make the playoffs after their loss to the New York Giants for the NFC East division title in the final game of their season, who later went on to win the Super Bowl .
2011 draft class
Notes
^[a] The Cowboys forfeited its original seventh-round selection after selecting defensive tackle Josh Brent in the 2010 Supplemental Draft .
Preseason
Schedule
The Cowboys' preseason schedule was announced on April 12, 2011.
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: at New York Jets
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss the Cowboys started the season at 0–1
Week 2: at San Francisco 49ers
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 3: vs. Washington Redskins
Week Three: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Redskins
6
3
7 0 16
Cowboys
3
6
3 6 18
at Cowboys Stadium , Arlington, Texas
Game information
First quarter
WAS – Graham Gano 46-yard field goal, Redskins 3–0 , Drive: 10 plays, 42 yards, 4:54.
DAL – Dan Bailey 41-yard field goal, Tied 3–3 , Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 4:32.
WAS – Graham Gano 46-yard field goal, Redskins 6–3 , Drive: 3 plays, 1 yard, 1:36.
Second quarter
DAL – Dan Bailey 41-yard field goal, Tied 6–6 , Drive: 4 plays, 9 yards, 1:52.
DAL – Dan Bailey 32-yard field goal, Cowboys 9–6 , Drive: 8 plays, 54 yards, 3:57.
WAS – Graham Gano 50-yard field goal, Tied 9–9 , Drive: 10 plays, 48 yard, 2:25.
Third quarter
WAS – Tim Hightower 1-yard pass from Rex Grossman (Graham Gano kick), Redskins 16–9 , Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 5:31.
DAL – Dan Bailey 41-yard field goal, Redskins 16–12 , Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 3:41.
Fourth quarter
DAL – Dan Bailey 23-yard field goal, Redskins 16–15 , Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 4:28.
DAL – Dan Bailey 40-yard field goal, Cowboys 18–16 , Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 1:57.
Top passers
WAS – Rex Grossman – 22/37, 250 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
DAL – Tony Romo – 22/36, 255 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
with the win the Cowboys improved to 2–1
Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions
Week Four: Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Lions
0
3
14 17 34
Cowboys
7
13
10 0 30
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Game information
First quarter
DAL – Dez Bryant 25-yard pass from Tony Romo (Dan Bailey kick), Cowboys 7–0 , Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 3:55.
Second quarter
DAL – Dez Bryant 6-yard pass from Tony Romo (Dan Bailey kick), Cowboys 14–0 , Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 2:25.
DAL – Dan Bailey 41-yard field goal, Cowboys 17–0 , Drive: 7 plays, 26 yards, 2:48.
DET – Jason Hanson 33-yard field goal, Cowboys 17–3 , Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 2:20.
DAL – Dan Bailey 35-yard field goal, Cowboys 20–3 , Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 1:28.
Third quarter
DAL – Jason Witten 1-yard pass from Tony Romo (Dan Bailey kick), Cowboys 27–3 , Drive: 6 plays, 46 yards, 2:37 .
DET – Bobby Carpenter 35-yard interception return (Jason Hanson kick), Cowboys 27–10 , Drive: 1 plays, 35 yards, 0:00.
DET – Chris Houston 56-yard interception return (Jason Hanson kick), Cowboys 27–17 , Drive: 7 plays, 31 yards, 4:38.
DAL – Dan Bailey 23-yard field goal, Cowboys 30–17 , Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:57.
Fourth quarter
DET – Calvin Johnson 23-yard pass from Matthew Stafford (Jason Hanson kick), Cowboys 30–24 , Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:00.
DET – Jason Hanson 51-yard field goal, Cowboys 30–27 , Drive: 8 plays, 14 yards, 3:09.
DET – Calvin Johnson 2-yard pass from Matthew Stafford (Jason Hanson kick), Lions 34–30 , Drive: 7 plays, 40 yards, 2:34.
Top passers
DET – Matthew Stafford – 21/43, 240 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception
DAL – Tony Romo – 34/47, 331 yards, 3 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Top rushers
DET – Jahvid Best – 11 carries, 47 yards
DAL – Felix Jones – 16 carries, 57 yards
Top receivers
DET – Calvin Johnson – 8 receptions, 96 yards, 2 touchdowns
DAL – Laurent Robinson – 7 receptions, 116 yards
Top tacklers
DET – Stephen Tulloch – 10 tackles, 2 assists, 1 interception
DAL – Barry Church – 4 tackles, 1 assist
With the loss the Cowboys fell to 2–2
Week 6: at New England Patriots
Week Six: Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cowboys
3
7
3 3 16
Patriots
3
10
0 7 20
at Gillette Stadium , Foxborough, Massachusetts
Date : October 16Game time : 4:15 p.m. EDT/3:15 p.m. CDTGame weather : 63°F (Partly Cloudy)Game attendance : 68,756Referee : Walt Coleman TV announcers (Fox) : Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
The Cowboys' blue uniforms returned after a 1-year hiatus, and they blew a 3-point fourth quarter lead, and lost to the Patriots.
Week 7: vs. St. Louis Rams
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
Date : October 23Game time : 3:15 p.m. CDTGame weather : Played indoors (retractable roof closed)Game attendance : 80,086Referee : Alberto Riveron TV announcers (Fox) : Dick Stockton and John Lynch
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 8: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week Eight: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cowboys
0
0
0 7 7
Eagles
14
10
3 7 34
at Lincoln Financial Field , Philadelphia
Date : October 30Game time : 8:20 p.m. EDT/7:20 p.m. CDTGame weather : 42°F (Clear)Game attendance : 69,144Referee : Gene Steratore TV announcers (NBC) : Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 9: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week Nine: Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
3
3
0 7 13
Cowboys
3
3
7 10 23
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week Ten: Buffalo Bills at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bills
0
7
0 0 7
Cowboys
14
14
6 10 44
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Date : November 13Game time : 12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (retractable roof closed)Game attendance : 85,157Referee : Jerome Boger TV announcers (CBS ) : Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
Week 11: at Washington Redskins
Week Eleven: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Cowboys
7
3
0 14 3 27
Redskins
0
14
3 7 0 24
at FedEx Field , Landover, Maryland
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 12: vs. Miami Dolphins
Thanksgiving Day game
Week Twelve: Miami Dolphins at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Dolphins
3
3
10 3 19
Cowboys
0
10
0 10 20
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Date : November 24Game time : 3:15 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (retractable roof closed)Game attendance : 87,418Referee : Pete Morelli TV announcers (CBS) : Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Coming off their thrilling overtime road win over the Redskins, the Cowboys went home, donned their throwback uniforms, and played a Week 12 interconference duel with the Miami Dolphins in the annual Thanksgiving game. Dallas trailed early in the first quarter with Dolphins kicker Shayne Graham getting a 26-yard field goal, yet the Cowboys would answer in the second quarter with a 26-yard field goal from kicker Dan Bailey , followed by quarterback Tony Romo finding wide receiver Laurent Robinson on a 5-yard touchdown pass. Miami would close out the half with Graham making a 28-yard field goal.
The Dolphins retook the lead in the third quarter with Graham booting a 27-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Matt Moore completing a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Marshall . Afterwards, Dallas regained the lead in the fourth quarter with Romo connecting with Robinson again on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Miami struck back with Graham making a 23-yard field goal, but Bailey rescued the Cowboys by nailing the winning 28-yard field goal.
With the win, Dallas improved to 7–4.
Bailey (2/2 on field goal, including game-winning 28-yarder) and linebacker DeMarcus Ware (1 assist & a fumble recovery) were named NFL on CBS ' All-Iron Award winners.
Week 13: at Arizona Cardinals
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 14: vs. New York Giants
Week Fourteen: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants
5
10
7 15 37
Cowboys
7
10
3 14 34
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYG – Brandon Jacobs 1-yard run, Lawrence Tynes XP Good, 12:45 (NYG 12–7)
DAL – Laurent Robinson 9 yd pass from Tony Romo, Dan Bailey XP Good, 6:26 (DAL 12–14)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 15: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
DAL – Romo , 23/30, 249 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
TB – Freeman , 17/27, 148 yards, 1 touchdown, 0 interceptions
Top rushers
DAL – Jones , 22 rushes, 108 yards
TB – Freeman , 4 rushes, 37 yards
Top receivers
DAL –Austin , 5 receptions, 53 yards, 1 touchdown
TB -Lumpkin , 5 receptions, 50 yards
Top defenders
DAL – Scandrick – 5 tackles, 1 assist (1 sack)
TB – Foster – 5 tackles, 3 assists
Week 16: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week Sixteen: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Eagles
7
7
3 3 20
Cowboys
0
0
0 7 7
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Date : December 24Game time : 3:15 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (retractable roof closed)Game attendance : 84,834Referee : Bill Leavy TV announcers (Fox) : Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 17: at New York Giants
Week Seventeen: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cowboys
0
0
7 7 14
Giants
7
14
0 10 31
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYG – Ahmad Bradshaw 5-yard run (Lawrence Tynes kick), NYG 14–0
NYG – Ahmad Bradshaw 10-yard pass from Eli Manning (Lawrence Tynes kick), NYG 21–0
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
DAL – Laurent Robinson 6-yard pass from Tony Romo (Dan Bailey kick), NYG 21–14
NYG – Lawrence Tynes 28-yard field goal, NYG 24–14
NYG – Hakeem Nicks 4-yard pass from Eli Manning (Lawrence Tynes kick), NYG 31–14
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the loss, the Cowboys finished at 8–8 and got eliminated from the playoffs.
Standings
Staff
Dallas Cowboys 2011 staff
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
Rosters
Opening preseason roster
Dallas Cowboys 2011 opening preseason roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Reserve Lists
90 Active, 1 Inactive
Week one roster
Dallas Cowboys 2011 week one roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Reserve Lists
Practice Squad
53 Active, 3 Inactive, 8 PS
Final roster
Dallas Cowboys 2011 final roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Reserve Lists
Practice Squad
53 Active, 10 Inactive, 6 PS
References
External links
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (25) Conference championships (10) League championships (5) Media Current league affiliations