When they work, trick plays can become the stuff of franchise lore.
The Seahawks maybe don’t even make it to a second straight Super Bowl if not for the fake field goal in the 2015 NFC Championship game when, with 4:44 left in the third quarter and Seattle trailing Green Bay 16-0, coach Pete Carroll eschewed the almost certain three points and instead called a trick play that resulted in punter Jon Ryan throwing a 19-yard touchdown pass to offensive lineman Garry Gilliam, a touchdown that sparked an improbable comeback.
But when they don’t work, well, Monday night happens, a 34-31 loss to Atlanta that 24 hours later still had Seattle fans debating a few of Carroll’s decisions.