GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It is a football theory as simple as they come: Hit the quarterback and it will pay big dividends.
The eye level will come down. The throws will come quicker. The feet will start dancing like a juiced-up showgirl.
Tom Brady, the quarterback they all said couldn't be stopped, was done in Sunday night by an attacking defensive front that came after him as seagulls on the beach attack a piece of bread.
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| Tom Brady feels the wrath of Michael Strahan and the Giants defense. (US Presswire) |
"That's what we do," Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said. "We felt like we could do it from the beginning and did not listen to anyone who said we couldn't."
The Giants sacked Brady four times and hit him at least 15 other times. The last sack, a crushing blow by Jay Alford, was the final dagger.
Moral of the story: It's pretty damn hard, no matter whom you are, to throw from your back.
"Those guys (the defensive line) should be the most valuable," Giants receiver Amani Toomer said. "They went after him with a vengeance."
It was cruel almost at times. Brady, who was clearly limping because of a sprained ankle, was pounded and pounded and pounded all night long. Normally smooth and easy in the pocket, his movement a key to his success, Brady seemed more like a statue on this night.
But even at his best, which he certainly was not, Brady would have had a hard time escaping this beating.
The Giants front whipped the Patriots offensive line. They did it with 30 percent of the plays being blitzes, but mostly just four-man rushes.
"That offense is made to stay in rhythm and some things we showed him up front and in the secondary, you could tell it kind of threw him off rhythm," said Giants defensive end/tackle Justin Tuck, who had two sacks. "He made some errant throws and held the ball a little longer than he normally does."
Brady finished the game 29-of-48 for 266 yards and one touchdown. Those numbers look better than he did.
