Got to thinking about this late in the game yesterday... I think that Denver's D put up the best defensive performance we have ever seen against the Pats in the playoffs in the Brady-BB era. Yes, the 2007 Giants stopped the juggernaut, but Brady was gimpy, and IIRC the Pats didn't turn the ball over that day (and the turnovers were huge yesterday). The "hits" stat really made the point hit home for me, Brady got hit more yesterday than either Super Bowl loss.
Here are the playoff losses in the Brady-BB era:
2005 @ Denver: Denver D played well, including the Champ Bailey pick 6, but Pats had some self-inflicted turnovers that day as well. Not the best performance against the Pats, but pretty good
2006 @ Indy: Pats put up 34 or whatever, Indy D basically sucked
2007 vs. NYG: D line played tremendous, probably #2 on the list for me
2009 vs. Baltimore: Baltimore D was pretty dominant but Pats offense didn't have much of a chance with early deficit, as well as no Welker
2010 vs. NYJ: Pats had some weird things happen this game that had nothing to do with the Jets - the pick on the screen pass, the dropped Crumpler TD, the Chung fake punt
2011 vs. NYG: NYG D played ok but Pats moved the ball a lot that game
2012 vs. Baltimore: Baltimore D played well but Pats were ridiculously banged up
2013 @ Denver: similar to 2012 Baltimore game
A few wins that I remember where the opposing D played really well:
2006 @ SD: they played well that game and would have won if not for the Troy Brown post-pick strip
2007 vs. SD: a valiant effort where they picked Brady off 3 times IIRC, Pats D and Maroney won the game that day
2011 vs. Baltimore: Ravens D played pretty damn well but Pats put up enough to win
Anyway, this thread isn't really meant to be depressing (like the other playoff losses thread) - more of a tip of the hat to some awesome defensive performances. And I think yesterday tops the list.
Here are the playoff losses in the Brady-BB era:
2005 @ Denver: Denver D played well, including the Champ Bailey pick 6, but Pats had some self-inflicted turnovers that day as well. Not the best performance against the Pats, but pretty good
2006 @ Indy: Pats put up 34 or whatever, Indy D basically sucked
2007 vs. NYG: D line played tremendous, probably #2 on the list for me
2009 vs. Baltimore: Baltimore D was pretty dominant but Pats offense didn't have much of a chance with early deficit, as well as no Welker
2010 vs. NYJ: Pats had some weird things happen this game that had nothing to do with the Jets - the pick on the screen pass, the dropped Crumpler TD, the Chung fake punt
2011 vs. NYG: NYG D played ok but Pats moved the ball a lot that game
2012 vs. Baltimore: Baltimore D played well but Pats were ridiculously banged up
2013 @ Denver: similar to 2012 Baltimore game
A few wins that I remember where the opposing D played really well:
2006 @ SD: they played well that game and would have won if not for the Troy Brown post-pick strip
2007 vs. SD: a valiant effort where they picked Brady off 3 times IIRC, Pats D and Maroney won the game that day
2011 vs. Baltimore: Ravens D played pretty damn well but Pats put up enough to win
Anyway, this thread isn't really meant to be depressing (like the other playoff losses thread) - more of a tip of the hat to some awesome defensive performances. And I think yesterday tops the list.
