Warning: Trap Game Incoming

[PantherFanOne]

Even though there are certain matchups that have come to be known as "trap" games,i'm not sure I would call this division game with Tampa Bay one even thought it fits the loose definition..I just don't see Tampa Bay having any matchup advantages over us.

 

There is no set definition for precisely what constitutes a "trap" game. But here's a loose explanation: A game in which a playoff contender faces a losing team, but one that still has some motivation for playing hard, and possesses some matchup advantages.

 

(“In this league, I don't believe your players take another team lightly. I know people don't believe that but I do. Especially this year, it's just a matter of how you're playing, and if you aren't playing well, you'll get beat.")

 

Herm Edwards 

 

[panthers55]

This game is at home which should help.  I hope that last week was a wakeup call. Tampa is getting better and reminds me of us last year, we started really slow and came on late to try and save the season and the coaches job.

 

I think we have more talent but expect Tampa to come out blitzing after seeing what happened in Miami.  Hopefully we have a better game plan to account for that. And hopefully Johnson is back.

[FootballMaestro]

TB will be plenty stoked and motivated for this game, division games always carry special meaning... What makes them dangerous is they have nothing to lose, they will be taking a lot of chances on offense and going for it on 4th down...nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal...

Plus, Schiano is fighting for job!!!!!!!!

 

You can say the same about the QB as well. He wants the starting position for next year, sans a competition. 

 

On the other hand: Panthers should want to make a statement, after the Miami game, and before the New Orleans one. 

[Jackofalltrades]

I love their attitude towards division games, "they count as two."

However, our O is struggling and their D is a stout bunch. McCoy is playing very well, Revis is being used properly and Lavonte David has regained his form. That's a difference maker at every level of the D. I didn't mention Barron, or the rest of the DL.

Matt Ryan Jr is playing very effecient ly and is spreading the ball around, last week VJax and Underwood hurt the Lions. Rainey at RB had a coming out party two weeks ago.

They are a team to be taken seriously, I'm glad we get them at home this time. Gameplan is the same as always- stop the run, get to the QB with the front four and create turnovers.

On offense we need to get things going, but we'll stick with the inside runs with play action coming off if that.

I like the home team for that reason.

[CatMan72]

I think the fact that it's a home game against a division rival will help us avoid a trap.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[PantherBoy95]

I believe last week was our wake up call. Great teams don't take games off. One game at a time, our next game is our biggest game.

[rayzor]

i'm not buying it.

 

i mean it could be one, but i don't think it's one that the panthers will fall into.

 

two things....

1) underestimated miami and, as smith was saying, they started believing their own press clippings and took it easy the first half. tye were getting beat down in a big way, but their eyes were opened up at halftime and the players and coaches made adjustments to get things back on track. i think that left a big imprint on their brains to not walk into any game thinking that they can come into any game and just walk out with a win with very little fight. i've got to think that what hardy said yesterday on espn30 holds true for the rest of the team (and yes, i posted in another thread but whatever)

 

ESPN 730 ‏@ESPN730 14h

Hardy on message for team getting ready for Tampa - "Destroy...no more coming out like Miami..need to get into dogfight 1st play"

 

2) the bucs have won three in a row and just beat the lions (who should have and would have had the lead in the NFCN if they hadn't overlooked the bucs and gotten beat), before that they beat the dolphins and the falcons, and before that almost beat the seahawks in seattle. the bucs have had a serious turnaround in the last month and i don't think you can look at that team and think "cakewalk". it's still a division rivalry and that team is evidently fighting and winning now. they can't be overlooked. the panthers can't afford to not walk into that game and think "this is going to be a brawl".

 

i'm not worried about the panthers perception walking on their field on sunday or any field for that matter. i see resolve. i mean you may see more getting to be on the field with them and all, but i see a team that dozed off for a moment and started getting beat up, but woke right back up, made adjustments, and pulled it together. i see a team that is now looking at every team on their schedule as someone to take seriously and who is trying to stand in their way to be the best in the league. if they take their foot off the gas, they lose...it's that simple. i think they understand that.

[jtm]

I don't think division games are trap games; especially not against a team that has won 3 in a row. I actually think the Panthers will be sharp this game given their sluggish showing against the Fins.

[cardiackat88.]

Do people really think some games are "free wins"? Do they really think our players feels the same way?

Our players are going to treat this like every other game. This trap game stuff is a joke.

The Panthers players were taking Miami as a joke, you could look at their faces and tell they were "rolling their eyes."

It would be like being a huge rockstar, selling out two I the biggest venues in the US and then having to play in some small town in Wyoming.

[pantherclaw]

Awww poo

Every game left cept the saints games, are trap games.

[bLACKpANTHER]

This week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be a win for the Panthers. Afterall, they demolished the Bucs only a few weeks ago in Tampa Bay before a national television audience. Yet hardly anyone is talking about this game, which worries me.

The Bucs are on a 3 game win streak, most recently winning in Detroit against a decent Lions team. As the Panthers found out on Sunday, any road win against a legitimate NFL team is no easy task.

Warning: This is not the Buccaneers team the Panthers faced in week 8.

Many things add up to this being a classic "trap game" for the Panthers. A game that is overlooked and a win that is taken as a give.

1. The Panthers convincing victory over the Bucs in week 8.

2. The Panthers are riding high on a 7 game win streak (that will most likely end at some point).

3. A huge game against the Saints for the division lead next week on national television.

4. It is Thanksgiving week which means added distraction and extra time off for the players.

Add all of these things together, and Sunday's game against the Bucs could be the biggest trap game of the season.

I think because we came out flat against Miami, that scared us straight and refocused us to where this won't be a trap game

Sent from my SPH-L710 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[Guest]

The real trap game is the Jets.  Non-division game, sandwiched between two huge Saints games, possibly (hopefully) for the NFC South crown.  At least we are at home for that one. 

[Chaos]

Trap game, not a trap game, whatever. Just someone please, for the love of all that is holy, please block that fat beast with the dreads on Tampa's d line. He was all over Cam in the last game. Can't remember his name, but our o line better be ready.

[CLTPanther]

I think they will have learned from the Miami game not to come out flat. Granted TB is on a 3 game streak, they now get the play a real defense again.