Angus
Active Member
- Messages
- 5,097
- Reaction score
- 20
Buffalo a trap for Dallas? Nope
October 7, 2007 4:38 PM
No one knows for sure who first used the phrase "trap game, but it's now tossed around on an almost weekly basis in the NFL. I even found myself referring to this week's Monday Night Football matchup as a trap game for the 4-0 Cowboys before eventually coming to my senses.
In its true form, a trap game is any contest against a team with a losing record sandwiched by games against teams with winning records. Since the Cowboys played against the winless Rams last Sunday, Monday's game in Buffalo (1-3) can't be considered the real deal -- even if the Patriots are headed to Texas Stadium next Sunday.
But since we're on the subject, here are some numbers from Pro Football Prospectus 2007, which is now considered a second carry-on.
In the 474 trap games since 1983, the team that was supposed to win compiled a 389-85 record. Turns out teams did slightly better in trap games (.820 winning percentage) than in normal games (1,601-359-3) against losing teams (.815).
mouse trapThe Bills are 10-point underdogs Monday, a margin that is almost unheard of at home in the NFL. Former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells hung mousetraps from the ceilings at Valley Ranch to remind his players not to look ahead. New coach Wade Phillips (below) has used motivational ploys before, but this week he left the talking to his players.
One of the captains, tight end Jason Witten, met with players to remind them not to get caught looking ahead to the New England game. His close friend and fellow captain Tony Romo has said he concentrates so completely on his upcoming opponent that he actually draws a blank when asked about the next game on the schedule. But I'm thinking it's a pretty good bet he knows Tom Brady's headed to town next week.
The Bills don't have a problem with the Cowboys looking ahead. Before last Sunday's game, Rams receiver Isaac Bruce predicted a victory over the Cowboys, and they were still talking about it after handing St. Louis a 35-7 victory.
On Friday, a Bills player made a prediction, but then called me back two hours later wanting to retract his statement. You're welcome!
wade phillipsAn intriguing storyline is the return of Phillips to Buffalo, where he made the mistake of replacing legendary coach Marv Levy. Phillips led the Bills to a 29-19 record during his three seasons as head coach, but he was remembered for benching the wildly popular Doug Flutie in favor of Rob Johnson during the 1999 postseason. In a wild-card playoff game on Jan. 8, 2000, the Bills were beaten by the Titans on a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that became the Music City Miracle.
Phillips made current Seahawks special teams coach Bruce DeHaven the scapegoat, and replaced him with the laughably bad Ronnie Jones, whom he refused to fire when instructed to do so by owner Ralph Wilson after the 2000 season. Even now, there is some debate on whether Phillips quit or was fired.
"I thought I was fired," Phillips said during a lengthy conference call with Buffalo-area reporters Wednesday. "If I wasn't, I wish he would have told me sooner. I'd still be there."
Phillips has attempted to downplay his return to Buffalo, but it's obvious that Wilson's quick hook still gnaws at him. Asked if he'd ever played the "what-if game," Phillips said, "What if I didn't get fired after an 8-8 season? That's a good one. I believe Bill Belichick was 5-11 that year, but they kept him around. I don't know how he did since then."
The Bills' Super Bowl teams had begun to unravel by the time Phillips took over as head coach in 1998, but he managed to lead them to two consecutive playoff appearances. His critics pointed to the fact he didn't wear a headset, and they poked fun at his snug-fitting sweatshirts.
Now at age 60, he finally has a chance to set the record straight. And it's just one more reason the trap game theory shouldn't apply.
http://myespn.go.com/profile/hashmarks
October 7, 2007 4:38 PM
No one knows for sure who first used the phrase "trap game, but it's now tossed around on an almost weekly basis in the NFL. I even found myself referring to this week's Monday Night Football matchup as a trap game for the 4-0 Cowboys before eventually coming to my senses.
In its true form, a trap game is any contest against a team with a losing record sandwiched by games against teams with winning records. Since the Cowboys played against the winless Rams last Sunday, Monday's game in Buffalo (1-3) can't be considered the real deal -- even if the Patriots are headed to Texas Stadium next Sunday.
But since we're on the subject, here are some numbers from Pro Football Prospectus 2007, which is now considered a second carry-on.
In the 474 trap games since 1983, the team that was supposed to win compiled a 389-85 record. Turns out teams did slightly better in trap games (.820 winning percentage) than in normal games (1,601-359-3) against losing teams (.815).
mouse trapThe Bills are 10-point underdogs Monday, a margin that is almost unheard of at home in the NFL. Former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells hung mousetraps from the ceilings at Valley Ranch to remind his players not to look ahead. New coach Wade Phillips (below) has used motivational ploys before, but this week he left the talking to his players.
One of the captains, tight end Jason Witten, met with players to remind them not to get caught looking ahead to the New England game. His close friend and fellow captain Tony Romo has said he concentrates so completely on his upcoming opponent that he actually draws a blank when asked about the next game on the schedule. But I'm thinking it's a pretty good bet he knows Tom Brady's headed to town next week.
The Bills don't have a problem with the Cowboys looking ahead. Before last Sunday's game, Rams receiver Isaac Bruce predicted a victory over the Cowboys, and they were still talking about it after handing St. Louis a 35-7 victory.
On Friday, a Bills player made a prediction, but then called me back two hours later wanting to retract his statement. You're welcome!
wade phillipsAn intriguing storyline is the return of Phillips to Buffalo, where he made the mistake of replacing legendary coach Marv Levy. Phillips led the Bills to a 29-19 record during his three seasons as head coach, but he was remembered for benching the wildly popular Doug Flutie in favor of Rob Johnson during the 1999 postseason. In a wild-card playoff game on Jan. 8, 2000, the Bills were beaten by the Titans on a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that became the Music City Miracle.
Phillips made current Seahawks special teams coach Bruce DeHaven the scapegoat, and replaced him with the laughably bad Ronnie Jones, whom he refused to fire when instructed to do so by owner Ralph Wilson after the 2000 season. Even now, there is some debate on whether Phillips quit or was fired.
"I thought I was fired," Phillips said during a lengthy conference call with Buffalo-area reporters Wednesday. "If I wasn't, I wish he would have told me sooner. I'd still be there."
Phillips has attempted to downplay his return to Buffalo, but it's obvious that Wilson's quick hook still gnaws at him. Asked if he'd ever played the "what-if game," Phillips said, "What if I didn't get fired after an 8-8 season? That's a good one. I believe Bill Belichick was 5-11 that year, but they kept him around. I don't know how he did since then."
The Bills' Super Bowl teams had begun to unravel by the time Phillips took over as head coach in 1998, but he managed to lead them to two consecutive playoff appearances. His critics pointed to the fact he didn't wear a headset, and they poked fun at his snug-fitting sweatshirts.
Now at age 60, he finally has a chance to set the record straight. And it's just one more reason the trap game theory shouldn't apply.
http://myespn.go.com/profile/hashmarks
