Ghost Rider
Footballguy
This was originally discussed in this thread:
http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...9824&st=150
I thought it deserved its own thread.
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My contention is when a playoff team is playing a meaningless game in week 17 or even week 16 (meaning their seed is locked up), the coaches will sometimes not necessarily put the best game plan together to try and win the game.
Most of the time, the plan is stay healthy and to keep the team in game form, especially if they are on a bye in the first round of the playoffs. I have seen teams play in those games, and they will often run a vanilla offense and defense. In other words, their game-plan is dumbed down and really not designed to give the team the best chance at winning. Why? Because it is a meaningless game. Winning or losing it really does not matter, since their seed is locked up.
There was much discussion about this in the game thread of Packers/Bears week 17 game and afterwards, as well.
Also, I remember in '98, when the 13-1 Broncos had the 1 seed in the AFC locked up, Mike Shanahan admittedly (later) ran a vanilla offense against the Dolphins in a Monday night game. Why? Because he knew the Broncos might face the Dolphins in the playoffs, and he did not want to give anything away. The Dolphins won the game handily. They did in fact meet in the second round. Shanahan's game-plan was not vanilla that time around. The Broncos won 38-3.
Thoughts?
http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...9824&st=150
I thought it deserved its own thread.
-------
My contention is when a playoff team is playing a meaningless game in week 17 or even week 16 (meaning their seed is locked up), the coaches will sometimes not necessarily put the best game plan together to try and win the game.
Most of the time, the plan is stay healthy and to keep the team in game form, especially if they are on a bye in the first round of the playoffs. I have seen teams play in those games, and they will often run a vanilla offense and defense. In other words, their game-plan is dumbed down and really not designed to give the team the best chance at winning. Why? Because it is a meaningless game. Winning or losing it really does not matter, since their seed is locked up.
There was much discussion about this in the game thread of Packers/Bears week 17 game and afterwards, as well.
Also, I remember in '98, when the 13-1 Broncos had the 1 seed in the AFC locked up, Mike Shanahan admittedly (later) ran a vanilla offense against the Dolphins in a Monday night game. Why? Because he knew the Broncos might face the Dolphins in the playoffs, and he did not want to give anything away. The Dolphins won the game handily. They did in fact meet in the second round. Shanahan's game-plan was not vanilla that time around. The Broncos won 38-3.
Thoughts?
