2011–12 NFL playoffs, Participants
The two surviving teams from each conference's divisional playoff games then meet in the respective AFC and NFC Conference Championship games, hosted by the higher seed. Although the Super Bowl, the fourth and final round of the playoffs, is played at a neutral site, the designated home team is based on an annual rotation by conference.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Schedule
In the United States, NBC broadcast the first two Wild Card playoff games and Super Bowl XLVI. CBS telecast the rest of the AFC playoff games and Fox the rest of the NFC games.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, AFC: Houston Texans 31, Cincinnati Bengals 10
In the first playoff game in Reliant Stadium (and the first NFL playoff game played in Houston since 1993), Houston's defense forced four sacks and intercepted three passes, while their offense racked up 188 rushing yards en route to the team's first playoff win since the team's founding in 2002. For the Bengals, it marked their fourth consecutive playoff loss since 1990 and extended their playoff win drought to 21 years, the longest streak among all NFL teams.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, AFC: Houston Texans 31, Cincinnati Bengals 10
In the first quarter, a 52-yard pass interference penalty against Texans defensive back Glover Quin while trying to cover A. J. Green gave the Bengals a first down at the Houston 24-yard line. Then facing third down and seven, backup tailback Brian Leonard ran a screen pass 16 yards to the 1-yard line, where Cedric Benson ran the ball into the end zone on the next play, giving Cincinnati a 7–0 lead. Houston struck back with a 6-play, 80-yard scoring drive. The key player on the drive was running back Arian Foster, who rushed five times for 44 yards, the last carry an 8-yard touchdown run to tie the game.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, AFC: Houston Texans 31, Cincinnati Bengals 10
In the second quarter, Cincinnati drove to the Texans 23-yard line. But on third down, quarterback Andy Dalton was sacked for a 9-yard loss by linebacker Brooks Reed, and then Mike Nugent missed a 50-yard field goal attempt. On the Bengals next drive, Dalton's 36-yard completion to reserve tight end Donald Lee and a 15-yard penalty against Houston at the end of the play set up Nugent's 37-yard field goal to make the score 10–7. Houston countered with T. J. Yates completing four passes for 38 yards on a 59-yard drive that ended with Neil Rackers' 39-yard field goal. Then with just 52 seconds left in the half, rookie defensive lineman J. J. Watt intercepted a pass from Dalton at the line of scrimmage and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to give the Texans a 17–10 halftime lead.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, AFC: Houston Texans 31, Cincinnati Bengals 10
In the second half, Houston completely took over the game. After the first three drives ended in punts, Yates completed two passes to Foster for 27 yards before tossing a 40-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson. On the Bengals next possession, they moved the ball to the Texans 47-yard line. But on fourth down and 3, Dalton's pass was intercepted by former Bengal Johnathan Joseph. Then in the fourth quarter, Houston put the game completely out of reach with an interception by Danieal Manning that set up Foster's 42-yard touchdown run, increasing their lead to 31–10 with just over five minutes left in regulation.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, AFC: Houston Texans 31, Cincinnati Bengals 10
Foster finished the game with 153 rushing yards, three receptions for 29 yards, and two touchdowns. He became the third undrafted player in NFL history ever to rush for over 100 yards in a playoff game, after Paul Lowe and Ryan Grant.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, AFC: Houston Texans 31, Cincinnati Bengals 10
The attendance of 71,725 was a record crowd for a football game at Reliant Stadium; in 2009, WrestleMania 25 was attended by 72,744 fans. The Bengals extended their current playoff losing streak to four, dating back to the divisional round loss against the Los Angeles Raiders in January 1991. This was the first game in playoff history ever to feature a starting rookie quarterback for each team.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
New Orleans never punted the ball, gained a postseason record 626 yards, converted three fourth downs, and scored 35 points in the second half to defeat the Lions, who were playing their first playoff game in twelve years.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford completed five of six passes for 70 yards on the opening drive of the game, the last one a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Heller. Later on, a 31-yard burst by Saints running back Pierre Thomas set up Darren Sproles' 2-yard touchdown run, tying the score early in the second quarter.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
Detroit responded on their next drive, moving the ball 87 yards in nine plays and taking a 14–7 lead on Stafford's 13-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson. With 21 seconds left in the half, New Orleans appeared to score the tying touchdown on a pass from Drew Brees to receiver Marques Colston, but the catch was overturned by official review, and the Saints ended up settling for a John Kasay field goal to cut the score to 14–10 at the end of the half.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
The Saints dominated the second half, scoring touchdowns on five consecutive possessions before ending the game on their sixth. On the first play of the third quarter, Thomas rushed for 18 yards. Running back Chris Ivory then added a 19-yard run before Brees finished the drive with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Devery Henderson. Then after a Lions punt, New Orleans drove 92 yards, featuring a 40-yard completion from Brees to Henderson, and scored with his 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jimmy Graham.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
This time Detroit stormed back, with Stafford completing two passes to Johnson for 63 yards before rushing the ball into the end zone himself on a 1-yard run, making the score 24–21. But their defense still could not stop Brees, who completed five passes for 52 yards on a 78-yard drive that ended with Sproles' second touchdown on a 17-yard run. Then on the first play of the Lions' next drive, Jabari Greer intercepted Stafford's pass at the New Orleans 39-yard line. Four plays later, Brees converted the turnover with a 56-yard touchdown pass to Robert Meachem.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
This time, Detroit managed to respond, with Johnson catching three passes for 38 yards on a 79-yard drive, the last one a 12-yard score. But New Orleans recovered Jason Hanson's onside kick attempt and stormed back for another touchdown, with Meachem's 41-yard reception setting up Thomas' 1-yard scoring run. Then the Saints sealed the victory with Greer's second interception from Stafford, enabling them to run out the rest of the clock.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
Brees completed 33 of 43 passes for a franchise postseason record 466 yards and three touchdowns. Meachem and Colston both recorded over 100 receiving yards each, while Thomas and Sproles combined for 264 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns between them.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
Stafford threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns, with two interceptions, while Johnson set franchise playoff records with 12 receptions for 211 yards and two scores.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
With the victory the Saints ran their home playoff winning streak to five dating back to their 2000 victory over the St. Louis Rams, which was also the first playoff win in their history. The Lions continued their streak of playoff futility, having only one playoff win – their divisional playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys in January 1992 – in their history since the AFL–NFL merger.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Saturday, January 7, 2012, NFC: New Orleans Saints 45, Detroit Lions 28
This was the first postseason meeting between the Lions and Saints.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 24, Atlanta Falcons 2
New York shut out Atlanta's offense, outgaining them in total yards 442–247, while also limiting them to 4/14 on third down conversions and 0/3 on fourth down attempts resulting in a dominating win in their only playoff game to date at MetLife Stadium.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 24, Atlanta Falcons 2
Both teams combined for just one first down over their first five possessions. Eventually, Atlanta managed to sustain a drive, but on the first play of the second quarter, quarterback Matt Ryan was stuffed for no gain on fourth down and one on the Giants 24-yard line. Two plays later, New York quarterback Eli Manning gave Atlanta the first points of the game by committing intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety that made the score 2–0. After forcing a punt, New York earned their first score with an 85-yard drive, featuring a 34-yard run by Brandon Jacobs, that ended with Manning's 4-yard touchdown pass to Hakeem Nicks, giving them a 7–2 lead.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 24, Atlanta Falcons 2
In the second half, a 30-yard run by Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw set up a field goal by Lawrence Tynes. Atlanta responded with a drive to the New York 21-yard line, but once again they came up empty when Ryan was tackled for no gain on fourth and one for a second time. A few plays later, New York increased their lead to 17–2 with Manning's 72-yard touchdown completion to Nicks. In the fourth quarter, Manning threw his third touchdown pass, a 29-yarder to Mario Manningham. Meanwhile, all that lay in store for Atlanta were more punts and their third failed fourth down conversion attempt of the day.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 24, Atlanta Falcons 2
Manning threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, while Jacobs added 100 all-purpose yards. Nicks caught six passes for 115 yards and two scores.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 24, Atlanta Falcons 2
The win marked New York's first playoff win since their victory in Super Bowl XLII and their first home playoff win since their victory in the 2000 NFC Championship Game; they were defeated in the 2005–06 playoffs by the Carolina Panthers in the wild card round and lost in the divisional playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2008 season after clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Atlanta's playoff losing streak reached four games with the loss. It was the first playoff game an offense was shut out since the Giants were shut out by the Carolina Panthers in 2005.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 24, Atlanta Falcons 2
This game was also notable for the fact that it was the first game in NFL postseason history in which a safety was the only score awarded to a team.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 24, Atlanta Falcons 2
This was the first postseason meeting between the Falcons and Giants.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
This game was the first one ever played under the league's new overtime rules, in which winning would be more difficult for the team that won the coin toss because the game would not end on an opening field goal. It did not matter, as it took Denver just one play to win with Tim Tebow's 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
Pittsburgh scored on their opening drive, with Ben Roethlisberger's 33-yard completion to tight end Heath Miller setting up a 45-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham. Later in the quarter, Steelers running back Isaac Redman rushed five times for 33 yards on a 47-yard drive that ended with Suisham's 38-yard field goal, increasing the score to 6–0.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
But Denver, which gained just eight yards in the first quarter, suddenly exploded with offensive production in the second. On their first drive of the quarter, Tebow completed a 51-yard strike to Thomas. Then he followed it up with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal. Following a Pittsburgh punt, Tebow's 58-yard completion to Thomas set up his own touchdown on an 8-yard run, giving the Broncos a 14–6 lead.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
An interception by Denver defensive back Quinton Carter quickly led to a 20-yard field goal from Matt Prater, and before the end of the half, Prater added one more, the second set up by Tebow's 41-yard completion to tight end Daniel Fells. With time running out in the quarter, Roethlisberger completed a 25-yard pass to Antonio Brown and an 18-yarder to Emmanuel Sanders on a drive that advanced to the Broncos 32-yard line. But on third down, a fumbled snap resulted in a 23-yard loss, pushing the team out of field goal range.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
Pittsburgh regrouped in the second half. After its defense forced a punt, Roethlisberger completed an 18-yard pass to Sanders and Redman broke off a 32-yard run on the way to a 1-yard touchdown run by receiver Mike Wallace on an end-around play, cutting the score to 20–13. Denver struck back with their third field goal from Prater, aided by a 32-yard pass interference penalty on Steelers defensive back Ike Taylor, but Pittsburgh responded with their own field goal-drive, featuring a 28-yard run by Redman, making it a one-score game at 23–16.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
With 7:35 left in regulation, Denver running back Willis McGahee lost a fumble while being tackled by Ryan Mundy, and linebacker LaMarr Woodley recovered it at the Steelers 45-yard line. Though Roethlisberger was sacked on the first play, he recovered with a 15-yard completion to Sanders and a 6-yard run before tying the game with a 31-yard touchdown completion to Jerricho Cotchery. Both teams had one more drive to attempt a winning score, but Denver could go no further than their own 35-yard line, while Roethlisberger was sacked twice on his drive as time expired in the fourth quarter.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
Following a touchback on the opening kickoff, Pittsburgh anticipated that Denver would take to the ground, so the Steelers defense put all 11 players within six yards of the line of scrimmage. But Tebow hit Thomas in stride on a slant pattern across the middle of the field, and he took the ball 80 yards to the end zone for the game-winning score.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
Tebow completed only 10 of 21 passes, but threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns without any interceptions, and added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and also set a franchise record for passer rating in a playoff game, with 125.5. Thomas had 204 yards and a touchdown on just four receptions, an average of 51 yards per catch. Defensive end Robert Ayers had two sacks. For the Steelers, Redman finished with a career-high 121 rushing yards.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
Many observers have pointed out the symbolism of Tebow's 316 passing yards in comparison to the Biblical passage of John 3:16. Tebow – known for his strong religious beliefs – had the number in black under his eyes when he led the Florida Gators in winning the 2009 BCS National Championship Game, which was played exactly three years to the day before this playoff game. Additionally, he set a playoff record by averaging 31.6 yards per completion. The only interception of the game was thrown by Roethlisberger on third down and 16. The Nielsen ratings for the game also peaked at 31.6. Pittsburgh's time of possession was 31:06.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
Denver won its first playoff game at home since defeating the New England Patriots in the 2005 playoffs, with their next game seeing them lose to the same Steelers. Pittsburgh failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007, after winning the AFC Championship Game the year prior.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Wild Card playoffs, Sunday, January 8, 2012, AFC: Denver Broncos 29, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 (OT)
This was the seventh postseason meeting between the Steelers and Broncos. Both teams split the first six meetings. Pittsburgh won the most recent meeting 34–17 in the 2005 AFC Championship Game.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
Alex Smith's 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis with nine seconds left gave San Francisco their first playoff win since 2002 at the end of a wild, back and forth final quarter which featured four lead changes in a span of 3:53.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
New Orleans started off the game with a 78-yard drive to the 49ers 2-yard line, but came up empty when defensive back Donte Whitner forced a fumble from Pierre Thomas that was recovered by linebacker Patrick Willis. Thomas was injured on the play and did not return. Later on, San Francisco opened up the scoring with Smith's 49-yard touchdown pass to Davis.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
A few plays into the next drive, Dashon Goldson intercepted a pass from Saints quarterback Drew Brees and returned it 41 yards to the 4-yard line, setting up Smith's touchdown completion to Michael Crabtree and giving the 49ers a 14–0 lead. Then Courtney Roby lost a fumble on the kickoff that San Francisco linebacker Blake Costanzo recovered on the Saints 13-yard line. This time New Orleans managed to keep them out of the end zone, but David Akers kicked a field goal to give the 49ers a 17–0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
Brees led the Saints back, completing seven consecutive passes for 65 yards and rushing for five on an 80-yard drive that ended with his 14-yard scoring pass to tight end Jimmy Graham. Then after a punt, he threw a 25-yard touchdown completion to Marques Colston, cutting the deficit to three points. Later on, Brees threw his second interception, this one to Tarell Brown, but San Francisco could not convert and the score remained 17–14 at the end of the second quarter, despite three Saints turnovers.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
Early in the second half, Costanzo forced a fumble from Darren Sproles on a punt return and Colin Jones recovered it, leading to Akers' second field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Saints managed to close the gap back to three points with a franchise postseason record 48-yard field goal from John Kasay. But a 42-yard run from San Francisco's Frank Gore helped put the margin back up to six on Akers' third field goal of the day.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
With 4:02 left in the game, New Orleans took their first lead of the game at 24–23 with Brees' 44-yard touchdown pass to Sproles. But it lasted less than two minutes before San Francisco took it back, with Smith hitting Davis for a 37-yard gain before taking the ball into the end zone himself on his career long 28-yard run, making the score 29–24 after the two-point conversion failed. Not to be outdone, Brees matched the score with his fourth touchdown pass of the day, a 66-yard completion to Graham, and then threw the ball to Sproles for a successful 2-point conversion, giving the Saints a 32–29 lead.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
San Francisco got the ball back on their own 15-yard line with 1:37 left in the game. Smith started the drive with two completions to Gore for 18 yards. Then after an incompletion, he connected on a 47-yard pass to Davis, advancing the ball to the Saints 20-yard line. A 6-yard completion to Gore then moved the ball to the 14, where Smith spiked the ball to stop the clock. On the next play, he threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Davis with nine seconds left, who managed to hang onto the ball despite a hard hit from Roman Harper while he was still in mid-air, earning San Francisco their first conference championship game since 1997.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
Smith threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while adding 28 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He was the first quarterback in NFL playoff history to lead two go-ahead touchdowns in the final three minutes of a game. Davis caught seven passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, breaking Kellen Winslow's NFL postseason record for receiving yards (166) by a tight end. Gore rushed for 89 yards and caught seven passes for 38. For the Saints, Brees completed 40 of 63 passes for 462 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
His top target was Sproles, who caught an NFL playoff record 15 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown, while adding 59 more yards on rushing and special teams returns. Graham caught five passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, while Colston caught nine passes for 136 yards and one score.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
Davis' game-winning touchdown catch occurred four days after the 30th anniversary of The Catch – Joe Montana's touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC Championship against the Cowboys – known as the most famous play in 49ers history. San Francisco had another famous playoff win in the 1998 Wild Card round against the Packers on a last second touchdown pass from Steve Young to Terrell Owens known as The Catch II. Sports writers and 49ers fans dubbed Davis' catch as The Catch III, also considering that all three times, the 49ers were trailing with less than a minute to go at Candlestick Park and facing 3rd and 3. The league later seconded the moniker on social media.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, NFC: San Francisco 49ers 36, New Orleans Saints 32
This was the first postseason meeting between the Saints and 49ers.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 45, Denver Broncos 10
New England quarterback Tom Brady completed 18 of 25 passes for 246 yards and a postseason record five touchdowns in the first half as the Patriots dominated the game the whole way through, setting new franchise postseason records for total yards (509), points (45), and margin of victory (35). Brady finished with six touchdown passes, while Denver quarterback Tim Tebow completed just nine of 26 passes, and the Denver offense had 14 plays that lost yardage.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 45, Denver Broncos 10
New England scored on their opening drive, moving the ball 80 yards in five plays, including a 43-yard run by Aaron Hernandez, before finishing it off with Brady's 7-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker. Denver responded with a drive to the Patriots 37-yard line, but Tebow lost a fumble while being sacked by Rob Ninkovich, and New England linebacker Brandon Spikes recovered it. Brady went right back to work, completing five consecutive passes for 47 yards on the way to a 10-yard touchdown toss to Rob Gronkowski.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 45, Denver Broncos 10
After a punt, Broncos defensive back Quinton Carter intercepted a pass from Brady and returned it 17 yards to the New England 24-yard line. On the last play of the quarter, Tebow kept the drive going with a 12-yard completion to Demaryius Thomas on third and 3, and then Willis McGahee ran the ball into the end zone from five yards out, cutting the score to 14–7.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 45, Denver Broncos 10
However, this would be the closest scoring margin the Broncos would reach for the rest of the game. At the end of New England's next drive, Zoltan Mesko's 40-yard punt pinned Denver back at their own 5-yard line. After a three and out, the Patriots got the ball back with great field position at their own 48. Brady then completed four consecutive passes for 41 yards, the last one a 12-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski. Later in the quarter, New England increased their lead to 28–7 on Brady's 61-yard touchdown completion to Deion Branch. And after forcing a punt, Brady threw a 20-yard completion to Hernandez, and an 11-yarder to Julian Edelman on the way to his 19-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski, increasing the lead to 35–7 with just five seconds left in the half.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 45, Denver Broncos 10
The second half didn't get any better for the Broncos. New England forced a punt on the first drive, which Edelman returned 15 yards to the Broncos 42-yard line. Five plays later, Brady tied a playoff record with his sixth touchdown pass of the day, a 17-yarder to Hernandez. Denver responded with Tebow completing an 18-yard pass to Matt Willis and a 15-yard pass to Eddie Royal on fourth down and 3. However, New England halted the drive at their 24-yard line, forcing them to settle for a 41-yard field goal by Matt Prater. In the fourth quarter, Brady completed two passes to Gronkowski for 48 yards to set up the last score of the day, a 20-yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski making the final score 45–10, New England's first playoff victory since the 2007 AFC Championship Game.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 45, Denver Broncos 10
Brady completed 26 of 34 passes for 363 yards and six touchdowns. Gronkowski caught 10 of those passes for 145 yards and tied a playoff record with three touchdown receptions. Ninkovich had four solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. McGahee was the top rusher of the game with 76 yards and a touchdown, while Thomas was Denver's top receiver with six receptions for 93 yards, including a 41-yard catch in the fourth quarter. The Broncos also gave up a postseason record of 16 negative yardage plays from the line of scrimmage.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Saturday, January 14, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 45, Denver Broncos 10
This was the third postseason meeting between the Broncos and Patriots. Denver won both previous meetings, including handing Tom Brady his first playoff loss 27–13 in the 2005 AFC Divisional playoffs.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
Despite gaining 227 yards, Baltimore's defense forced four turnovers, which included Ed Reed's clutch interception on his own 4-yard line with less than two minutes left, to win the game and send the Ravens into their third AFC Championship Game in franchise history.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
Houston's Danieal Manning returned the opening kickoff 60 yards to the Ravens 41-yard line, setting up a field goal by Neil Rackers. Their defense quickly forced a punt, but returner Jacoby Jones fumbled the ball and cornerback Jimmy Smith recovered for Baltimore on the Texans 2-yard line. Two plays later, Joe Flacco put the Ravens on the board with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kris Wilson, Wilson's first reception of the year. Then after forcing a punt, Flacco's 21-yard completion to Anquan Boldin set up a 48-yard field goal from Billy Cundiff, making the score 10–3.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
Later in the quarter, Baltimore cornerback Lardarius Webb intercepted a pass from T. J. Yates at the Houston 34-yard line. On third down and 9, Ray Rice kept the drive going with a 20-yard gain on a screen pass, and Flacco ended up finishing it off with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Boldin.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
In the second quarter, Houston managed to fight back. First, Arian Foster rushed three times for 29 yards and caught a pass for 16 on a 59-yard drive that ended with Rackers' second field goal, cutting the score to 17–6. Then after a punt, Foster rushed for 53 yards, including a 28-yard burst on the first play, on a 12-play, 86-yard drive that consumed just 5:46 and ended with his 1-yard touchdown run, making the score 17–13. Baltimore responded with a drive to the Texans 33-yard line. But on third down, lineman J. J. Watt sacked Flacco for a 9-yard loss, pushing the Ravens out of field goal range.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
On Houston's first drive of the second half, Yates completed a 17-yard pass to Andre Johnson and a 19-yarder to Kevin Walter, moving the ball to the Ravens 32-yard line. But Baltimore halted the drive there and Rackers missed a 50-yard field goal try. The Ravens then took the ball back and drove all the way to the Texans 1-yard line, but Rice was stuffed for no gain by Tim Dobbins on fourth down – Dobbins' only tackle of the game – and they failed to score.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
Midway through the fourth quarter, Webb recorded his second interception of the day on the Ravens 29-yard line, and Baltimore converted the turnover with a 44-yard field goal, taking a 7-point lead at 20–13. Yates responded with two completions to Johnson for 34 yards, moving the ball to the Ravens 38-yard line. But on the next play, Reed picked off a deep pass from Yates on his own 4-yard line with less than two minutes left in regulation. Houston still managed to force a punt with 45 seconds left, but the Ravens defense rose to the occasion once again, forcing a turnover on downs at their own 43-yard line.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
Flacco threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Webb had four tackles and two interceptions. For Houston, Foster rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown, while also catching five passes for 22 yards. Johnson was the top receiver of the game with eight receptions for 111 yards. Watt had 12 total tackles (nine solo) and 2.5 sacks, while linebacker Brooks Reed had six solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
This was Baltimore's first home playoff game since 2006, and their first home playoff win since 2000.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Houston Texans 13
This was the first postseason meeting between the Texans and Ravens.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
For the second consecutive year and for the fourth time in five seasons, the No. 1 seed in the NFC lost its opening game as New York topped Green Bay behind a career postseason high passing yardage day from Giants quarterback Eli Manning.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
The Giants received the opening kickoff, and scored on the opening drive with a 31-yard field goal by kicker Lawrence Tynes. The Packers responded with a game-tying field goal on their opening drive, when their kicker Mason Crosby hit a 47-yard field goal. New York scored again on the following drive as Manning threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to receiver Hakeem Nicks.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
Once again, the Packers responded on the following drive when Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to fullback John Kuhn on the first play of the second quarter. Green Bay was aided by a controversial call on the drive where receiver Greg Jennings was ruled down by contact on a play where replays showed that he had lost the ball, but after Giants coach Tom Coughlin challenged the call the play was upheld. Kuhn's touchdown tied the score at 10. Green Bay then attempted an onside kick to try and catch the Giants off guard, but New York recovered in Packer territory. However, on the drive that followed Tynes saw his 40-yard field goal attempt blocked.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
New York recovered a fumble by Kuhn with 3:37 left in the half and on the first play of the ensuing drive Manning found Nicks for a 29-yard gain to the Green Bay five-yard line. The drive stalled afterward and Tynes kicked his second field goal of the game from 21 yards out. After forcing a Packers punt on their next drive, Manning and the Giants advanced into Packers territory on third down with a 23-yard run by Ahmad Bradshaw to put the ball at the Packers' 37.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
More importantly, Bradshaw was able to get out of bounds and stop the clock which gave the Giants four seconds to run one final play before the half. Manning then converted a Hail Mary pass in the end zone that was caught by Nicks, who secured the catch by holding the ball against his helmet in a play reminiscent of Manning's pass to David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII. The extra point made the score 20-10 in favor of New York at the half.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
The Packers turned the ball over on their first drive of the second half after Rodgers was sacked by Osi Umenyiora and Deon Grant recovered the ball after Rodgers fumbled. However, Green Bay got the ball back after forcing a three-and-out and scored on the next drive when Crosby converted his second field goal. It was the last scoring play of the third quarter, as neither team was able to put a drive together for a score.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
Green Bay moved into New York territory but the drive was stalled at the Giants' 39-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Coach Mike McCarthy elected to go for the first down on fourth and 5 but Rodgers was sacked by Michael Boley and the Packers turned the ball over on downs. The Giants scored on their possession with a third field goal by Tynes, this time from 35 yards.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
New York then capitalized on a fumble by Ryan Grant on the second play of the following drive as Chase Blackburn recovered and took the ball to the Packers' 4-yard line. Manning then threw to Mario Manningham for the touchdown on the first play of the new possession and gave the Giants a 30–13 lead.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
New York appeared to have stopped the Packers' on a third down when Rodgers threw an incomplete pass to Donald Driver but Umenyiora was called for hitting Rodgers late and the Packers received a new set of downs. Six plays later Rodgers found Driver for a 16-yard touchdown to cut the Giants' lead to 30–20. However, they failed to recover the onside kick as Victor Cruz fell on the ball after Spencer Paysinger failed to control the kick from Crosby initially. It took New York six plays to score again when Brandon Jacobs ran it in from 14 yards out.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
Trailing 37–20, the Packers took the field trying again to score as they had on their last drive. After hitting Jordy Nelson for an 11-yard gain on the first play Rodgers was then sacked by Umenyiora. After a short pass to James Starks that resulted in the loss of a yard Rodgers tried to throw to Jermichael Finley, but the pass was intercepted by Grant and the Giants ran out the clock from there.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
With the victory the Giants advanced to their fifth NFC Championship Game and first since 2007, when they defeated the Packers to advance to the Super Bowl. Manning passed for a postseason career high 330 yards on 21-for-33 passing and three touchdowns. Nicks caught seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns while Cruz added five catches for 74 yards and Manningham caught three passes for 31 yards and one touchdown. In the defeat, Rodgers finished with 264 yards on 26-for-46 passing, two touchdowns, and an interception. Jennings led the Packers in receptions with four for 40 yards while Driver added three and led the team in receiving yards with 45. New York forced four turnovers (the interception and three fumbles) and sacked Rodgers four times.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
Green Bay was playing in its first playoff game at home since the aforementioned 2007 NFC Championship Game and lost for the second consecutive time. The Packers became the first team to win at least fifteen games during the season and not advance beyond their first playoff game and became the fourth team after the 1998 Vikings, the 2004 Steelers, and the 2007 Patriots to win at least 15 games during the season and not win the Super Bowl.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
As previously mentioned, the Packers became the fourth team in five years – 2007 Cowboys, 2008 Giants, and 2010 Falcons – to get the NFC's top seed and lose their first playoff game. This was also the sixth consecutive year in which the defending Super Bowl champion failed to win a playoff game. The win by the Giants also was the first win by a road team in the 2011–12 NFL playoffs.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
The Giants' win was their fifth consecutive away from home in the playoffs. Dating back to their 2007 Super Bowl season, the Giants played games in Raymond James Stadium, Texas Stadium, University of Phoenix Stadium, and Lambeau Field twice (including this game) and won each game.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Divisional playoffs, Sunday, January 15, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 37, Green Bay Packers 20
This was the seventh postseason meeting between the Giants and Packers, with Green Bay having won four of the prior six meetings. New York won the last meeting 23–20 in overtime in the 2007 NFC Championship Game.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
With New England clinging to a 23–20 lead near the end of the game, Patriots safety Sterling Moore broke up consecutive passes in and near his own end zone, forcing Baltimore to attempt a 32-yard field goal to send it into overtime. But Billy Cundiff's kick was wide left, earning New England their seventh Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
After the game started with four punts, New England receiver Julian Edelman's 10-yard return gave his team good field position on their 39-yard line. The Patriots then drove to the Baltimore 11-yard line, aided by an illegal contact penalty on Lardarius Webb that wiped out an interception, and scored with Stephen Gostkowski's 29-yard field goal. New England quickly forced a punt, but Webb eventually intercepted a pass – for his third interception in two games – from Tom Brady on his own 30-yard line. On the next play, Joe Flacco's 42-yard completion to Torrey Smith moved the ball to the Patriots 28. However, New England's defense managed to halt the drive at the 3-yard line, where Cundiff kicked a field goal to tie the game.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
In the second quarter, New England drove 75 yards to score the first touchdown of the game. The key player on the drive was running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who rushed five times for 33 yards and finished it off with a 7-yard touchdown run. Baltimore struck right back with an 80-yard scoring drive, with Flacco hitting Anquan Boldin for 37 yards and Lee Evans for 20 before finding tight end Dennis Pitta in the end zone to tie the game back up at 10. But New England retook the lead on their next drive, with Brady completing five of seven passes for 60 yards on the way to Gostkowski's second field goal, making the score 13–10 at the end of the half.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
New England started off the second half with another long scoring drive, moving the ball 74 yards to the Ravens 6-yard line. But on third and two, Green-Ellis was tackled for no gain, so Gostkowski kicked his third field goal to give them a six-point lead. Later in the quarter, Baltimore took their first lead of the game, 17–16, on Flacco's 29-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Then Ravens receiver LaQuan Williams – a college teammate of Smith at the University of Maryland – forced a fumble from kick returner Danny Woodhead that Emanuel Cook recovered for Baltimore at the Pats 28-yard line, setting up Cundiff's second field goal to make the score 20–16.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
Woodhead returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the 37-yard line, and the Patriots offense took the ball to the end zone from there, featuring a 23-yard reception by tight end Rob Gronkowski. On fourth down on the Ravens 1-yard line, Brady took the snap and dove over a pile of players for a touchdown, giving New England a 23–20 lead. Late in the fourth quarter, Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes picked off a pass from Flacco and returned it 19 yards to midfield.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
Brady tried to capitalize on the next play with a deep pass to the end zone, but Bernard Pollard deflected the ball and Jimmy Smith made a diving interception just before it hit the ground. Then he got back up and returned the ball to the Ravens 39-yard line. Baltimore subsequently drove to the Patriots 30-yard line, but on third and three, Vince Wilfork dropped Ray Rice for a 3-yard loss. Rather than attempt a 50-yard field goal, Baltimore decided to go for it on fourth down, but Flacco's pass was incomplete and the team turned the ball over.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
The Ravens defense forced a punt with 1:44 left, giving them one last chance to tie or win the game. Three receptions by Boldin for 41 yards helped move the ball to the Patriots 13-yard line. But Moore made two critical pass deflections to keep them out of the end zone. First, Evans appeared to haul in a touchdown pass, but Moore knocked the ball out of his arms just before he held it long enough for a reception. Then on third down, he broke up a pass intended for Pitta at the 2-yard line.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
Cundiff then came onto the field to try a 32-yard field goal attempt which would have sent the game into overtime for the first time in an AFC Championship Game in 25 years (this didn't occur until the 2018 AFC Championship). However his kick was wide left, enabling New England to run out the rest of the clock.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
Flacco threw for 306 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. Boldin caught eight passes for 101 yards. Brady won his 16th postseason game as the Patriots quarterback, tying the NFL record held by Joe Montana. He also joined John Elway as one of the only quarterbacks ever to play in five Super Bowls.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
The missed kick – and the fact that the football's laces were not out, as customary during placekicks – drew comparisons to the fictional kicker Ray Finkle from the 1994 film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, who missed a similar short-range last-second kick in their version of Super Bowl XVII. The memory of Myra Kraft inspired the Patriots and some fans credited her intervention for the miss. Robert Kraft said "We had an angel looking out for us."


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, AFC: New England Patriots 23, Baltimore Ravens 20
This was the second postseason meeting between the Ravens and Patriots. Baltimore won the only prior meeting 33–14 in the 2009 AFC Wild Card playoffs.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, Reactions
None of the Ravens players blamed the loss entirely on Cundiff.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, Reactions
Linebacker Terrell Suggs told ESPN that there was a miscommunication on the sideline prior to the missed field goal. He blamed it on the scoreboard, which he said inaccurately stated there was a first down. In fact, the Ravens were one yard shy.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, Reactions
Punter Sam Koch said the play felt rushed. Cundiff himself said he was late getting on the field.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, Reactions
Cundiff pointed the finger at himself alone following the game, but stated that these moments do not define a player, and that he had intended to move on with his career. He said that he had made kicks like that 1000 times before, and that there was no excuse. He said it is a lesson he would learn from. He said he hopes to make amends during the next season. Despite his statement, Cundiff was cut by the Ravens before the start of the 2012 season in favor of rookie kicker Justin Tucker.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, Reactions
Ravens fans reacted to the loss with shock and were described as "heartbroken".


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, Reactions
University of Kansas basketball fans mocked Cundiff during a game that took place the following day. This included holding up white cardboard letters that spelled out C-U-N-D-I-F-F, and tilting them to the shooter's left, during the game whenever an opponent shot a free throw.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
For the fifth time in conference championship history and for the third time in five years, overtime decided the game, and as it was in the 2007 NFC Championship Game, a field goal by Lawrence Tynes was the winning score as the Giants defeated the 49ers for their fifth NFC Championship Game victory. The Giants became the third team in NFL history to advance to the Super Bowl with fewer than 10 wins during a 16-game regular season, joining the 1979 Los Angeles Rams and the 2008 Arizona Cardinals. (Additionally, Green Bay won Super Bowl II after a 9-4-1 season.)


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
The 49ers scored the first touchdown of the game as quarterback Alex Smith connected with tight end Vernon Davis deep for a 73-yard touchdown pass midway through the opening quarter. Davis was called for an excessive celebration penalty after he climbed atop the camera tower in the back of the end zone, which forced David Akers to kick off from the 49ers' 20-yard line. San Francisco took possession of the ball on downs when New York failed to convert a fourth-and-1 situation from their 34-yard line.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
On the first play of the ensuing drive the 49ers attempted an end-around reverse play where receiver Kyle Williams would be the ball carrier. Williams, however, could not handle the handoff on the end-around and fumbled the ball but was able to recover when the ball squirted out of the grasp of a Giants defender. The 49ers punted three plays later, but this would not be the last time Williams' ball-handling would cause his team trouble during the game.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
The Giants tied the score on the next drive, as Eli Manning found tight end Bear Pascoe for a six-yard touchdown pass to complete a 10-play, 69-yard drive. Manning completed passes to wide receiver Victor Cruz twice on the drive, one for a large gain that afforded New York the football in San Francisco territory. It was among two of 10 catches that Cruz made during the game. They then gained the lead on the last drive of the half, as Tynes converted  the first of two successful field goals with a 31-yard kick.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
Cruz was again Manning's key target on the drive, with four receptions including a catch that set up Tynes' attempt. With 5:18 remaining in the third quarter, the 49ers regained the lead on Smith's second touchdown pass. San Francisco was able to move the ball 54 yards in six plays and was aided by Williams' 24-yard return of Steve Weatherford's punt. Frank Gore caught a pass from Smith on the second play of the drive for a 24-yard gain to the New York 28-yard line whereupon Davis caught his second touchdown pass on the next play to give the 49ers a 14–10 lead.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
On the Giants' first possession of the fourth quarter they elected to punt the football. Williams, who was filling in for injured starting kick returner Ted Ginn Jr., moved to receive the punt but at the last second elected to let the football continue to bounce past him. Giants receiver Devin Thomas picked up the ball and the play was blown dead at the spot of the touch with possession awarded to San Francisco.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
Thomas, however, did not stop running once he picked up the ball, claiming that Williams touched the ball before he did, and went into the end zone for what he thought was a touchdown. Coach Tom Coughlin decided to challenge the play and see whether or not Williams did indeed touch the football, which would have given the Giants possession. The call was reversed upon review, with the Giants taking possession at the spot of the touch as the kicking team is not allowed to return a muffed punt. Seven plays later, Manning found Mario Manningham for a 17-yard scoring pass to give them the lead again.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
The 49ers responded on their next possession and on the first three plays, they achieved successive first downs. The first was awarded as the result of a defensive foul, as Kenny Phillips was flagged for illegal use of hands, while the following two were earned by Smith and Kendall Hunter on running plays. Three plays later, Akers was called on to kick the game-tying field goal as the drive stalled at the New York 8-yard line. Akers converted tying the game at 17-17. The rest of the fourth quarter was uneventful as the teams traded possessions six times. The Giants punted three times while the 49ers did so twice, and regulation ended on a play where tight end Delanie Walker fumbled the football.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
After a lengthy description of the current playoff overtime rules by referee Ed Hochuli, New York won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff of overtime; however, four plays later, they elected to punt the football. With the new overtime rules in place, this meant that since both teams had taken possession of the ball, the game was now sudden-death where the first team to score would win the football game. However, San Francisco could not advance the football on their possession and the 49ers elected to punt the football after three plays.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
The Giants started their drive from their 36-yard line and advanced near midfield on third down, but Manning was sacked by Justin Smith and Weatherford came out for his twelfth punt of the game. Once again, Williams fielded the kick. After returning the ball five yards Giants linebacker Jacquian Williams reached in and stripped the football from Williams and Thomas recovered it at the San Francisco 24-yard line. It was Williams' second official fumble and second lost fumble, and the last time the 49ers would possess the ball.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
Ahmad Bradshaw carried the football on three successive plays and rushed for eight, six and four yards to the San Francisco six yard line. On the fourth snap, Manning simply took the ball to the middle of the field and kneeled, which brought up third down. Tynes was called out onto the field for what was a 26-yard field goal, but the Giants were called for a delay-of-game penalty, making it a 31-yard attempt. Tynes alleged there was a patch of dirt at the 16-yard line and felt more comfortable kicking 5 yards back. After San Francisco called timeout to try to attempt to distract Tynes, he converted the field goal successfully despite a low snap. With the victory, the Giants moved on to Indianapolis to play the Patriots in the Super Bowl.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
As had happened in the previous four conference championship games that required overtime to decide them, the winning margin was a field goal. Tynes became the first person to kick the winning field goal in overtime twice and became the first since Garrett Hartley of the New Orleans Saints did so in the 2009 NFC Championship Game. New York became the second consecutive team to win three playoff games to reach the Super Bowl after the Packers won three road playoff games the year before.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
San Francisco lost its second consecutive NFC Championship Game where they served as the host team, having lost the 1997 NFC Championship Game at home to the Packers. The 49ers dropped to a win–loss record of 1–5 in NFC Championship Game appearances since their victory in 1990 over the Los Angeles Rams to advance to Super Bowl XXIV; the Giants handed the 49ers two of those losses (one of them in very similar fashion to this game 21 years earlier) and the Dallas Cowboys also defeated them twice. Meanwhile, New York won their fifth NFC Championship Game in as many tries and won their third conference championship game on the road in the process. The three road wins all came on the last play of the game, while the two home wins were both by shutout.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
Manning, despite being sacked six times and constantly under pressure by the 49ers, was praised for his gutsy performance. He completed 32 of 58 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers in the rainy contest. Smith had 196 passing yards and two touchdowns – both to Davis – finishing 12-for-26. This was Smith's last 49ers playoff game as he was replaced by Colin Kaepernick in 2012. Bradshaw and Gore each rushed for 74 yards while Cruz led all receivers with 10 catches for 142 yards. Davis caught three passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
Of San Francisco's six sacks, defensive tackle Ray McDonald had a team-high two and a half. Justin Tuck led New York with one and a half of the team's three sacks. San Francisco fumbled the football on four occasions and Williams lost the two fumbles which were the only turnovers of the game. There were twenty-two combined punts in the game, as Weatherford and Andy Lee recorded twelve and ten punts, respectively. The 49ers converted only one third down in 13 opportunities.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Conference Championships, Sunday, January 22, 2012, NFC: New York Giants 20, San Francisco 49ers 17 (OT)
This was the eighth postseason meeting between the Giants and 49ers. San Francisco had won four of the prior seven meetings, including 39–38 in the 2002 NFC Wild Card playoffs.


2011–12 NFL playoffs, Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17
This was the second Super Bowl matchup between the Giants and Patriots, with New York pulling off the upset in Super Bowl XLII.


2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season was the 95th season of operation (94th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Los Angeles Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Final four games to two to win the team's first Stanley Cup in their second Stanley Cup final appearance; they had lost to Montreal Canadiens in the 1993 Finals.


2011–12 NHL season
During the off-season, the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to become the "new" Winnipeg Jets. It was the first NHL team relocation since the 1997–98 season, when the Hartford Whalers relocated to become the Carolina Hurricanes. The league did not change its divisional structure to accommodate the move, and the Jets took the place of the Thrashers in the Southeast Division. In December 2011, the board of governors eventually approved a proposed realignment for the following season, which would result in four conferences with the first two rounds of the playoffs being divisional, but this was rejected by the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA).


2011–12 NHL season
It was the fifth consecutive season with games in Europe at the start of the season. The Winter Classic was held on January 2, 2012, in Philadelphia between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers. The 59th All-Star Game was held at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, the home arena of the Ottawa Senators, on January 29, 2012.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Franchise relocation
Atlanta Spirit, LLC, which previously owned the Atlanta Thrashers, sold the team to True North Sports and Entertainment, who relocated them to the True North-owned MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba and renamed the Winnipeg Jets, after a previous NHL team in the market. Winnipeg took Atlanta's place in the Southeast Division for 2011–12.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Salary cap
On June 23, 2011, the NHL announced that the salary cap would be increased by $4.9 million. As a result, the new salary cap ceiling was set at $64.3 million while the salary cap floor was $48.3 million.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
Several teams announced plans to change their uniforms in the 2011–12 season.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Edmonton Oilers unveiled a new away uniform parallel to their "retro" home uniform used from 1979 to 1996. They retained the navy blue, copper and red uniforms as their alternates.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Nashville Predators unveiled new home and away uniforms on June 22, complete with the updated saber-toothed cat logo. Their use of gold as the home colors marked the first time since 1988 that an NHL team wore gold in their home uniforms.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Florida Panthers made minor changes to their home uniform, using red as the primary and relegating navy blue as a trim color.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Los Angeles Kings returned to the silver and black motif they used from 1988 to 1998, by designating their alternate home black and silver uniform as a regular uniform and unveiling a new white away uniform with black and silver trim. The purple and black uniform were retained as an alternate uniform.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Ottawa Senators unveiled a new alternate home uniform based on the original Senators barber pole design. The uniform does not use the Roman centurion logo, instead using an outlined "O" on stripes. The Senators' uniform will also have an All-Star Game patch.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Pittsburgh Penguins promoted their dark blue uniforms, worn during the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, as the home alternates, replacing the 2008 NHL Winter Classic alternates.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Tampa Bay Lightning unveiled new home and road uniforms, featuring the simplified lightning logo. Originally the uniforms were simply blue and white, but by popular demand, black was added as a trim color to the uniform numbers, and added the lightning bolt to the pants. The "Bolts" alternate home uniform was retained.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled a new alternate home uniform based on the Leafs uniforms worn during their run to the 1967 Stanley Cup title, including the 11-point maple leaf logo.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The Washington Capitals also promoted their 2011 NHL Winter Classic retro uniforms as their road alternates.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The new Winnipeg Jets unveiled uniforms consisting of navy with silver and light blue trim, containing a logo based on the roundel of the Royal Canadian Air Force; these were significantly different from, but in a similar color scheme to, the original Jets uniforms.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The New York Islanders unveiled a new black alternate uniform, featuring the team name above the player's number, a similar template the Dallas Stars' uniforms currently use. Speaking of the Stars, they officially retired their alternate away jersey featuring the team crest, instead using their regular away jerseys with the city name and number in front for all 41 road games.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers wore special commemorative uniforms for the 2012 NHL Winter Classic. The Flyers unveiled theirs on November 21, and is in a classic sweater design in orange featuring black numbers and different striping patterns on the yoke. The Rangers unveiled theirs on November 28, and features a mix of designs used from previous jerseys. The shield logo in front is a variation of the logos used during the 1930s–1940s, while the shoulder, arm and tail striping was taken from the current jersey. Both teams would wear their Winter Classic uniforms again on February 5 and 11 at Madison Square Garden and Wells Fargo Center respectively, with the away team wearing the regular uniforms.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
In addition several teams sported memorial patches throughout the season; many of these memorials were for related events (see "Off-Season" section below). Unless specified, the patches were seen on the team helmets:


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
Furthermore, a new league-wide rule required that player numbers be displayed on the front of their helmets, as well as on the back.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Uniform changes
Even though the New Jersey Devils and the Phoenix Coyotes unveiled anniversary logos commemorating their 30th and 15th anniversaries of their respective relocations from Colorado and Winnipeg, they opted not to use them on their uniforms or helmets.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Rule changes
Prior to the 2011–12 season, the Board of Governors unanimously agreed to update and re-word rule 41 involving boarding penalties. The new wording requires the player delivering the check to avoid or minimize contact if the opponent is defenceless.


2011–12 NHL season, League business, Rule changes
The Board of Governors also approved an update to rule 48 involving illegal checks to the head. The new rule will penalize all hits where the head is the principal point of contact. The previous version of this rule only made checks from the blindside illegal. However, determination if the check is legal will depend on various factors including whether or not the player put himself in a vulnerable position or if the hit was unavoidable. A two-minute minor penalty, or a major penalty in the event the hit was deemed to be deliberate with intent to injure, may be assessed.


2011–12 NHL season, Off-season
Three young (under 40) "enforcer"-type players died within a four-month span during the off-season. The deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak led to speculation about the effect of fighting on the mental health of players.


2011–12 NHL season, Off-season
Several former NHL players died in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash involving the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team in Russia. Those who perished in the plane crash included NHL All-Star Pavol Demitra, Alexander Karpovtsev, Igor Korolev, Brad McCrimmon, Karel Rachunek, Ruslan Salei, Karlis Skrastins and Josef Vasicek along with nearly the entire team roster, coaches, and several young prospects.


2011–12 NHL season, Pre-season, European exhibition games
The four teams going to Europe to open their regular seasons there as part of the NHL Premiere games also played exhibition games against European teams under the banner of NHL Premiere Challenge to close out their pre-seasons. The NHL teams had an overall record of 6–1–0 against the European teams, with the New York Rangers, playing four games in five days in four countries, having a record of 3–1–0.


2011–12 NHL season, Regular season, Premiere games
Four teams participated in the 2011 Compuware NHL Premiere in Europe. The Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers made their second trip to Europe while the Buffalo Sabres made its first trip. On October 7, Anaheim played Buffalo at Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland, and Los Angeles faced New York at the Ericsson Globe Arena in  Stockholm, Sweden. All four teams played again on October 8 with Los Angeles against Buffalo at the O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany, and Anaheim against New York in Stockholm.


2011–12 NHL season, Regular season, Thanksgiving Showdown
As part of the league's updated television contract, the NHL debuted the Thanksgiving Showdown, a nationally broadcast game on the day after American Thanksgiving in 2011. The game, which was sponsored by Discover, featured the Boston Bruins (who have traditionally hosted Black Friday matinées since 1990) hosting the Detroit Red Wings, with Detroit winning the game in a shootout, 3–2.


2011–12 NHL season, Regular season, 2012 Winter Classic
The 2012 NHL Winter Classic was held at the Citizens Bank Park baseball stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Monday, January 2, 2012. This season, the Philadelphia Flyers hosted the New York Rangers. It was the first Winter Classic game for the Rangers and the second for the Flyers. The result of the game was a 3–2 Ranger victory. Philadelphia last played in the 2010 NHL Winter Classic against the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won that game in overtime by a score of 2–1 on a goal scored by Marco Sturm.


2011–12 NHL season, Regular season, 2012 Winter Classic
This was the first time that the Winter Classic was not played on New Year's Day, which fell on a Sunday in 2012. If the Winter Classic was held on New Year's Day, it would have conflicted with the final game of the National Football League season (in which the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Washington Redskins at nearby Lincoln Financial Field), and the annual Mummers Parade in downtown Philadelphia. The Flyers–Rangers rivalry is one of the NHL's most frequently televised rivalries on U.S. television networks; it was televised three times nationally on NBC in 2011–12, including the inaugural Hockey Day in America.


2011–12 NHL season, Regular season, Standings
Each of the 30 teams play an 82-game season of an unbalanced schedule. Teams play six games against division opponents; four games against other conference opponents; and one or two games against teams of the other conference. The first-place teams in each division place first, second and third in the conference standings. The top five finishers from the rest of the teams in each conference will also qualify for the playoffs, making a total of eight playoff teams in each conference.


2011–12 NHL season, Playoffs
The 2012 playoffs started on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, and ended with the sixth game of the Stanley Cup Finals on June 11, 2012, in which the Los Angeles Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils 6–1 to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks, the Stanley Cup finalists from 2011, were eliminated in the first round, ensuring a new champion in 2012. In the East, three of the four series went to seven games in the opening round, and two of those went to overtime to decide their series.


2011–12 NHL season, Playoffs
The series between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh set new playoff scoring records, while the Boston-Washington series had only a single goal differential. In the West, none of the first-round winners had won the Stanley Cup, and the Phoenix Coyotes won their first playoff series since moving to Phoenix from Winnipeg. All West series were decided in six games or less, and five of the six games in the Chicago-Phoenix series went to overtime.


2011–12 NHL season, Playoffs, Bracket
In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. The higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage. In the Stanley Cup Final series, home ice is determined based on regular season points. Each best-of-seven series follows a 2–2–1–1–1 format: the higher-seeded team plays at home for games one and two (plus five and seven if necessary), and the lower-seeded team is at home for games three and four (and if necessary, game six).


2011–12 NHL season, NHL awards
Awards were presented at the NHL Awards ceremony, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 20, 2012. Finalists for voted awards are announced during the playoffs and winners are presented at the award ceremony. Voting concluded immediately after the end of the regular season. The Presidents' Trophy, the Prince of Wales Trophy and Clarence S. Campbell Bowl are not presented at the awards ceremony. The Lester Patrick Trophy is announced during the summer and presented in the fall.


2011–12 NHL season, Player statistics, Scoring leaders
The following players lead the league in points at the conclusion of the regular season.


2011–12 NHL season, Player statistics, Scoring leaders
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus-minus; PIM = Penalty minutes


2011–12 NHL season, Player statistics, Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season while playing at least 1,800 minutes.


2011–12 NHL season, Player statistics, Leading goaltenders
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average


2011–12 NHL season, Milestones, First games
The following is a list of notable players who played their first NHL game in 2011–12, listed with their first team:


2011–12 NHL season, Milestones, Last games
The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2011–12, listed with their team:


2011–12 NHL suspensions and fines
The following is a list of all suspensions and fines enforced in the National Hockey League during the 2011–12 NHL season. It lists players and coaches (by team), their offense, and the punishments they received. During the regular season, the Vancouver Canucks was the only team that did not have any players or staff suspended or fined.


2011–12 NHL transactions
The following is a list of all team-to-team transactions that have occurred in the National Hockey League during the 2011–12 NHL season. It lists what team each player has been traded to, signed by, or claimed by, and for which player(s) or draft pick(s), if applicable. Players who have retired are also listed.


2011–12 NK Maribor season
The 2011–12 season was the 52nd season in the history of NK Maribor and the club's 21st consecutive season in the Slovenian PrvaLiga since the league establishment in 1991. The team participated in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, Slovenian Football Cup, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League. The season covers the period from 1 June 2011 to 31 May 2012. Darko Milanič was a head coach of the club.


2011–12 NK Maribor season
The 2011–12 season was one of the most successful in history of the club as Maribor won the domestic double, having won the league and cup title. In addition, Maribor became the first Slovenian club that qualified to the UEFA Europa League. They have also finished the season as runners-up of the 2011 Slovenian Supercup.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Supercup
The 2011 Slovenian Supercup was the seventh edition of the Slovenian Supercup, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Slovenian PrvaLiga and Slovenian Cup competitions. The match was played on 8 July 2011, in Ljudski vrt stadium between 2010–11 Slovenian PrvaLiga winners Maribor and 2010–11 Slovenian Cup winners Domžale. Both teams contested for their second Supercup title. The match was played by the best two teams of the 2010–11 season.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Supercup
During the course of that season Maribor was a league champion with Domžale being the only serious contender through most of the season, eventually finishing as runners up. The two teams were the only ones in the league that earned 20 or more victories, with Maribor achieving 21 and Domžale 20. In addition, both teams were part of the Slovenian cup final, held on Stožice stadium in Ljubljana and won by Domžale with the score 4–3 after regulation. The match is arguably one of the best cup finals ever held, since the competition was first introduced during the 1991–92 season.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Supercup
Domžale won the 2011 Slovenian Supercup with the score 2–1 after regulation and became the most successful team in history of the competition as the only club with more than one victory. This was the second consecutive victory for Domžale over Maribor in domestic cup finals in five weeks, after winning the Slovenian cup in May 2011.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Supercup
Controversies arose at the end of the match as Zlatko Zahovič, Maribor's director of football, publicly stated that Maribor was not allowed to win and was disappointed with some of the main referee's decisions in second half, especially the one in 82nd minute when a clear penalty was not ruled in favour of his club. Maribor later made an official press statement expressing their concerns with the referees regarding the club's upcoming league season.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Supercup
Colour key: Green = Maribor win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, July–September
Maribor began their campaign at Ljudski vrt stadium on 16 July against Gorica, with Aleš Mertelj captaining his side after the absence of Marcos Tavares. A header from Aris Zarifović in the 67th minute put Gorica ahead but the home side responded late in the second half with the goals from Nebojša Kovačević (own goal) and Dejan Mezga, which were enough for the first win of the season. The team faced Nafta Lendava in their first away match of the season with Slovenia international goalkeeper, Jasmin Handanović, between the posts for the first time after his signing with the club.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, July–September
A late goal in the 88th minute from Nafta was merely a consolation, as Maribor was at the time already leading with two goals difference and the match eventually finished with the score 2–1. The result was identical in the next round when Maribor defeated Rudar Velenje at home, with all three goals being scored in the final twenty minutes of the game.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, July–September
The club's good form continued in their next away match against Triglav as they achieved their fourth straight 2011–12 victory (2–0) and topped the league table for the first time of the season. During the next round their run was stopped with a goalless home draw against the two times champions, Domžale. In the week that followed Maribor played another home match, this time against their rivals Mura 05.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, July–September
The team proved to be too strong against the visiting side, a team that played in the second division during the previous season, and comfortably won the match with the score 6–0. Dalibor Volaš, Etien Velikonja and Agim Ibraimi each scored two goals. Days later club legend Ante Šimundža left the club and became the head coach of Mura 05. Saša Gajser replaced Šimundža as an assistant coach at Maribor. Immediately after their victory over Mura 05 the team traveled to Edinburgh where they faced Scottish champions Rangers in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League play-offs.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, July–September
The match in Scotland ended with a score 1–1 and Maribor proceeded to the next round with the score 3–2 on aggregate, thus becoming the first Slovenian club that qualified to the group stages of the Europa League. They were on the road again less than 72 hours after the historic night when they faced their "eternal" rivals Olimpija, the team considered as Maribor's main contender for the 2011–12 title, at the Stožice Stadium in Ljubljana. Unrecognizable during the first half Maribor went down by three goals at halftime and was unable to turn the result back in their favour. Eventually they lost the game 4–1 and sustained their first league defeat of the season. In addition, this was the first loss for Maribor after 17 consecutive league rounds without defeat (2 April 2011 vs Koper).


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, July–September
Due to the international break at the start of September it was almost two weeks before the next round was played. A timeout well needed by the club that played two matches per week for the better part of the season. After the break Maribor bounced back with another home victory, 5–2 against Celje. In the ninth round they salvaged a point against Koper who took the lead twice during the match. The final score at Bonifika stadium was 2–2. After the first quarter of the season Maribor was on first place, with three-point lead over Olimpija.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, July–September
Poor form continued when the club won only one point in matches against Gorica (1–1) and Nafta (2–0). The loss against the side from Lendava was the first home league defeat since 16 March 2011 when Maribor was defeated 1–0, also by Nafta. The final league match in September, against Rudar Velenje, was postponed as Maribor had obligations in the UEFA Europa League where they faced Birmingham City.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, October–December
The club began October with a 2–0 home win against Triglav and continued their good form with two away wins, 4–1 over Domžale and 3–1 over Mura 05. With three consecutive victories the team was in high spirits as they faced their rivals Olimpija in the final match of the month. Before the 16th round the visiting team from Ljubljana was tied second on the league table and was four points behind the league leaders from Maribor, who still had a deficit of one game due to their postponed match with Rudar Velenje.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, October–December
The match against Olimpija was played in front of 12,500 spectators, the highest of the season, and after dominating the first phase of the game, Maribor found themselves a man down when in the 22nd minute Dejan Mezga received a straight red card for intentionally hitting an opponent. Soon afterwards Olimpija took the first lead in the match when Davor Škerjanc placed a superb volley shot past the home goalkeeper and into the netting.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, October–December
Although they were with only ten players, Maribor regained their composore and had a couple of great chances until the 45th minute when Olimpija's former member, Agim Ibraimi, scored an equaliser from a shot with his weaker right foot. However, one minute later in the injury time of the first half Olimpija took another lead when Dare Vršič's long effort was saved by Jasmin Handanović, and picked up by Filip Valenčič who easily put the ball into the empty net.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, October–December
During most of the second half Maribor had the upper hand and couple of chances when in the 69th minute Goran Cvijanović scored with an excellent shot from the distance. The home side tried to score the winning goal by the end of the 90th minute, however, the match eventually finished 2–2 with both teams earning a point, maintaining the four-point difference between them on the league table.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, October–December
In the next round Maribor played against Celje on their Arena Petrol stadium and were losing 2–1 until the late equaliser from Cvijanović in the 88th minute. One minute later Dalibor Volaš scored another goal and Maribor won 3–2, taking important three points with them. On 12 November the team played their postponed match of the 12th round against Rudar Velenje and won in Velenje with the score 3–0, bringing their league advantage to seven points.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, October–December
During the next two rounds the club played two consecutive matches at their Ljudski vrt stadium, both times against teams from the Primorska region, Koper and Gorica. The matches were won by Maribor with the identical score, 2–1. The club's good form continued when they won against Nafta Lendava 3–0 away and against Rudar Velenje 1–0 at home thus finishing the first part of the season strong, with six straight victories. The victory goal against Rudar Velenje was scored by Mezga in the injury time of the second half from a penalty shot.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, October–December
Other clubs did not follow Maribor with their good run and fell behind on the league table. Eventually Maribor went into the winter break with 15 points ahead of Gorica and Olimpija who were tied second on the league table. With 15-point clearance and 15 rounds to be played in the second part of the season, the fans and the media already saw Maribor as the 2011–12 PrvaLiga champions.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, March–May
The second part of the season started in early March, after nearly three months pause due to the winter break. Maribor played their first spring match in Kranj where they were surprisingly defeated by Triglav, a team from the bottom of the table. The club then faced Domžale and Mura 05 in two consecutive home matches. Maribor defeated both of them and won all six points available. They then faced their rivals Olimpija at the Stožice Stadium, where the club suffered their highest defeat of the season when they were defeated 4–1 in the seventh round.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, March–May
In front of 8,000 spectators Maribor pressed from the start and Velikonja scored in the sixth minute. The score did not change until early in the second half when Cvijanović increased Maribor's lead, with a superb long distance effort. During the rest of the match, which was at one point suspended for about ten minutes due to crowd trouble, Olimpija tried to make a comeback and in the 88th minute they lowered the score with a penalty shot by Dare Vršič. However, this was not enough as the time eventually ran out and Maribor won with the score 2–1.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, March–May
The club increased their league on the table to over 20 points and it was clear that they were very close in securing their 10th title. Maribor then won their fourth consecutive match when they defeated Celje 3–1, at home. History repeated itself in early April when Maribor traveled to the Primorska region to face Koper and Gorica in two consecutive away games for the second time in the season. Similarly to the two matches in September, Maribor again only managed to win two points in Koper and Nova Gorica.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, March–May
The team bounced back, however, and managed to win the next seven consecutive matches, making the longest winning run of any club during the 2011–12 Slovenian PrvaLiga season. During this period Maribor scored 26 goals and conceded only four. In addition, the run included two dominant home victories over Nafta 6–0 and Triglav 8–0, and also a 3–2 victory over Olimpija. The win over Triglav in the 31st round also secured the title and Maribor became the first club in history of the PrvaLiga, who won the title with five rounds remaining.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, March–May
During the final round of the season, Maribor played at home against Koper, who needed a win to secure their third-place finish and thus qualify to the UEFA Europa League in the next season. The team from Koper had the desired score when they took the lead in the 25th minute, however, their European dreams was shattered in the last minute of the match when Robert Berić's strike from 20 meters caught their goalkeeper by surprise, for the final score 1–1.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, March–May
This was Darko Milanič's fourth season as the head coach of Maribor and he has led the club to their third league title during this period. After the match, the club officials and players took the trophy and carried it on to the southern platform of the stadium, below which thousand of supporters gathered to celebrate the club's record 10th league title. In honor of this achievement, the club added a permanent golden star on top of their crest.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian League, Matches
Colour key: Green = Maribor win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian Cup
Maribor entered the 2011–12 Slovenian Cup in the second round (Round of 16), in which they were drawn to face Adria Miren of the Slovenian third division. The two teams met in Miren, a small town in the Primorska region near the Italian border, and Maribor won 2–0 with plenty of missed opportunities. They then faced another third division side, Zavrč, in the quarter-final. The match was played over two legs, the first leg being played in Zavrč. Maribor quickly found themselves in trouble when they faced a surprising two-goal deficit within 28 minutes of play.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian Cup
They then fought back and with the goal from Željko Filipović they finished the first half, losing 2–1. Zavrč scored their third goal at the start of the second half to take a 3–1 lead before Maribor staged a comeback with goals from Etien Velikonja and Dragan Jelić, for the final score 3–3. In the second leg, in front of 4,500 spectators, Maribor dominated throughout the match, but only managed to score once for the final score 1–0, thus qualifying in the semi-final with the score 4–3 aggregate.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian Cup
The club then faced Rudar Velenje in the semi-final. The first leg was played in Velenje on 11 April 2011 and Maribor quickly showed why they were considered favourites, when Etien Velikonja scored early in the match. However, the home side equalised with a goal from Leon Črnčič in the 22nd minute and 1–1 was the final score of the first half. During the second Maribor went forward and started creating chances. This tactic capitalized during a span of eight minutes, from 57th to 65th, when Maribor scored three goals (Mejač, Velikonja, Ibraimi) for a comfortable three-goal lead.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian Cup
Eventually, the home side managed to score again in the 81st minute for the final score 4–2 in favour of the guests. The second leg was played one week later at Ljudski vrt stadium, and, after a 2–2 score after first half, Maribor again prevailed in the second, scoring twice for another 4–2 victory and an aggregate score 8–4. Velikonja again showed his good form with another two goals in the competition.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Slovenian Cup
Colour key: Green = Maribor win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Champions League
Qualified as the 2010–11 Slovenian PrvaLiga champions, Maribor started their European campaign in the second qualifying round of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League against Dudelange from Luxembourg, a team that advanced through the first qualifying round with a 4–0 aggregate victory over Santa Coloma. The first match between Maribor and Dudelange was played in Ljudski vrt stadium and won by Maribor with the score 2–0; Arghus and Ibraimi were the goalscorers. Seven days later the team played a rematch with the Luxembourg side and comfortably achieved another victory (3–1), thus qualifying to the next round.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Champions League
They then faced Israeli Premier League champions Maccabi Haifa, in the first meeting in European competitions between Maribor and a team from Israel. The match was lost 3–2 on aggregate, relegating Maribor to the Play-off round of the UEFA Europa League, where they faced a home draw against the Scottish Premier League champions Rangers.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Champions League, Second qualifying round
Colour key: Green = Maribor win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Champions League, Third qualifying round
Colour key: Green = Maribor win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League
It was the second time in European competitions that Maribor played against Rangers as the two clubs have faced each other during the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, when the side from Glasgow easily prevailed with the score 6–1 aggregate. One decade later the two teams met in a crucial two-legged qualifiers that would determine which club would advance into group stage of the UEFA Europa League.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League
First leg was played at the Ljudski vrt stadium in Maribor and after suffering by a goal deficit at halftime, the home side turned the score around with two goals in the second to win the match 2–1. Maribor's second goal of the night came from a back-heel kick by Etien Velikonja during the final seconds of injury time. It later turned out that the goal from Velikonja was decisive as the second leg at Ibrox Stadium finished with the score 1–1. Maribor thus qualified to the group stages of the UEFA Europa League for the first time in their history. The match in Scotland was played on 25 August, the same date as the twelve years earlier when Maribor defeated Lyon and qualified to the elite UEFA Champions League.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League
For their first appearance in the Europa League, Maribor was drawn into Group H together with 2010–11 runners up Braga, 1975–76 runners up Club Brugge and English Championship side Birmingham City, which qualified to the competition as the winners of the 2011 Football League Cup. The club won one point in six matches, eventually finishing at the bottom of the table. Their campaign started in Bruges against Club Brugge. The home side showed their quality in the opening minutes and quickly took a two-goal lead, which was enough for their 2–0 victory.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League
Maribor then played their first home match against Birmingham City and fared well during the first hour when they were leading 1–0 from a first half goal by Dalibor Volaš. The English side, however, bounced back with two goals in the final 30 minutes and won the match 2–1. Almost a month later Maribor played their second consecutive home match, this time against Braga. Agim Ibraimi's strike in the 14th minute gave the home side a lead until Elderson equalised in the final seconds of the first half. The goal was controversial as it was scored from an offside position. Both teams failed to score a decisive goal in the second half and the match finished as a draw, giving Maribor their first point.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League
Early in November the team traveled to Portugal to face Braga for the second time. There they were outplayed from the start as the Portuguese team took a two-goal lead within the ten-minute mark, with another first-half goal coming from Elderson in the 38th minute. During the second half, Maribor showed a better performance, with Volaš reducing the home lead in the 62nd minute. Minutes later Ibraimi had a chance to bring his side to a one-goal deficit; however, his free kick strike hit the crossbar. During the final minutes Braga scored two more goals for a 5–1 victory.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League
The club then made headlines across Europe when they hosted Club Brugge at the Ljudski vrt stadium. During much of the match Maribor showed one of their best performances of the season, taking a 3–0 lead in the 68th minute with two goals coming from Volaš and an own goal by Ryan Donk. The score stayed the same until the goal by Nabil Dirar in the 74th minute, which started a comeback for the Belgians. Soon afterwards Dirar scored his second, followed by a goal from Joseph Akpala and by the 82nd minute the score was 3–3.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League
Club Brugge then pressed forward in hopes of scoring a winning goal, which would bring them a much needed three points in their battle for promotion. The goal came in the final seconds of the match and was scored by Donk who corrected his mistake in the 51st minute when he was responsible for an own goal. Without a chance for promotion, Maribor played their last Europa League match of the season at the St Andrew's stadium in Birmingham. The poor performance on the pitch produced one goal from the home side and Birmingham City won the match 1–0, with both teams concluding their European campaign of the season.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League, Play-off round
Colour key: Green = Maribor win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, UEFA Europa League, Group H
Colour key: Green = Maribor win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.


2011–12 NK Maribor season, Squad statistics, Appearances and goals
Correct as of 23 May 2011, end of the 2011–12 season. Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. The players squad numbers, playing positions, nationalities and statistics are based solely on match reports in Matches section above and the official website of NK Maribor. Only the players, which made at least one appearance for the first team, are listed.