Mile High Sports

Tom Brady under pressure: The terror of knowing the Broncos pass rush

MHS Staff

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) is brought down by Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) during the first quarter in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Exactly two weeks after legendary singer/songwriter David Bowie shuffled off this mortal coil, the Denver Broncos defense delivered a performance that invoked one of the rock icon’s greatest songs; in the AFC Championship Game, a 20-18 victory, the Broncos pass rush had Patriots quarterback Tom Brady “under pressure,” as they were “chippin’ around” at the future Hall of Famer all day en route to the second-worst performance of his playoff career. Denver kept Brady in a constant state of “terror of knowing,” as Bowie (and Queen) put it, that the pressure was coming and wasn’t going to stop.

The Denver Broncos unleashed a relentless pass rush against Brady, sacking him four times for a loss of 18 total yards and delivering a punishing 20 quarterback hits.

Veteran edge rusher DeMarcus Ware, who missed the Week 12 matchup with New England, led the Broncos in the hits department; he registered a walloping seven hits and one-half sack on Brady. His speed rush was virtually unstoppable on the day.

On the other edge was Von Miller, whose own speed rush was nearly impossible for the Patriots to contain. Miller got 2.5 sacks, setting a Broncos franchise single-game record. He  hit Brady four times, registered five tackles (four solo) and had a critical interception that allowed the offense to score its second touchdown of the day.

The pressure on Brady didn’t just come from the edges though. Defensive ends Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson were also instrumental in the pass rush, each getting to Brady routinely as well. Wolfe registered four hits and Jackson added three of his own. Wolfe also had a sack, a tackle for a loss, a pass defended and led the team in total tackles with six (tie).

Even the second unit was getting through the Patriots’ offensive line, registering two hits of their own between Shaquil Barrett and Vance Walker.

What’s most impressive about the damage done by the defensive front seven was that Denver was rarely rushing more than four, as the linebackers were routinely in coverage on Rob Gronkowski and accounting for New England’s other offensive threats. Wade Phillips pass rushers simply outworked a depleted New England line. The were helped by superb coverage by the Denver secondary, who managed to keep the explosive New England receivers mostly in check.

From the first snap through the final play of the game, Denver didn’t let up that pressure. Here’s what the team from Mile High Sports, plus some of our favorite follows locally and nationally had to say about the Denver pass rush and the difference it made.

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