2012 NFL Schedule: Early Trap Games for Playoff Contenders

It happens every season in the National Football League. A team either looks ahead at next week's big showdown or comes into a game riding high off a big win, then underestimates what is considered to be an inferior opponent and promptly gets their hats handed to them.

The 2012 season will certainly be no different, and with that in mind, here's a look at some early-season matchups in which the perceived favorite had better come to the stadium ready to play lest they fall prey to the dreaded trap game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants, Sept. 16

The New York Giants begin defense of their Super Bowl championship on Sept. 5 in the NFL's season opener against the hated Dallas Cowboys, and after the humiliating way in which the Giants ended Dallas' season in Week 17 a year ago, you can best your last dollar that Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware and the rest of that team are going to come to the Big Apple looking for payback.

A New York win in what's sure to be a hard-fought affair would be a great start to the 2012 campaign for Big Blue. However, quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants need to be wary of slipping into a bad habit the team had last year when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to town in Week 2, as New York had a maddening habit in 2011 of rising (or sinking) to the level of their competition.

Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots, Sept. 16

After narrowly losing Super Bowl XLVI to the Giants, the Patriots would seem to be destined to make another run deep into the postseason, as the NFL awarded the team the easiest schedule in the NFL in 2012, including two straight winnable openers against the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals.

Both those contests could be viewed as "trap" games of sorts given that each team played at least .500 ball in 2011. However, with a Week 3 rematch of the AFC Championship game in Baltimore against the Ravens looming, it's the Cardinals in Week 2 that the Patriots will be in the most danger of overlooking, which could be dangerous given how well Arizona played down the stretch last year.

Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints, Sept. 23

One could hardly blame players and coaches from the New Orleans Saints for being a bit distracted right now, given the "player bounty" scandal that has ripped apart the team and quarterback Drew Brees' ongoing contract impasse.

However, the team is sure to circle the wagons somewhat before the Washington Redskins open the season in the Big Easy on Sept. 9. In fact, it's very possible that the 2-0 Saints will enter their Week 3 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs confident that they'll be 3-0 when they travel to Lambeau Field to battle the Green Bay Packers the next Sunday.

The Chiefs proved apt at playing the role of spoiler last year, handing the Packers their only regular season loss even without top offensive star Jamaal Charles and top defender Eric Berry. So, the Saints would be well-advised not to underestimate Kansas City, or they could head into a huge game with the Pack coming off a shocking loss on their own field.

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