2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

The 2011 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 36th in the National Football League (NFL), and their third and final season under head coach Raheem Morris. The team played seven of their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida; the eighth was played at Wembley Stadium in London in week 7 as part of the NFL International Series.

Tampa Bay had high hopes for 2011. The team had not qualified for the playoffs since 2007, and that they attempted to build upon their success from the previous season. In 2010, Tampa Bay had finished with a 10–6 record, but lost out on tiebreakers and failed to make the playoffs. With the youngest head coach, and the youngest roster in terms of average age, in the league, and with anxious optimism, head coach Raheem Morris nicknamed the team "youngry." A close loss to the Detroit Lions on opening day was followed by a three-game winning streak and a fairly respectable 4–2 start with wins against their division opponent Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers were tied for first place in the NFC South in mid-October; however, self-inflicted troubles started affecting the season, leading to a brutal 10-game losing streak to finish the season, all but two of these losses being by multiple possessions. Turnovers, penalties and poor defense began taking its toll. Quarterback Josh Freeman threw 22 interceptions (second-worst in the league), more than triple his total from 2010. The once dominating Tampa Bay defense ranked 30th in the league in total yards.

Statistically, the Buccaneers defense was among the worst in the league in 2011. Tampa Bay allowed the most points in the league (494), the most yards per play (tied at 6.3), most yards per pass attempt (tied at 7.6), the most rushing yards (2,497) and the most rushing touchdowns (26). They also allowed the second most yards per attempt (5.0), the second most rushing first downs (135), the third most total yards (6,311) and fourth most total first downs (356) of all teams in 2011.