http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/010506/jag_20731466.shtml
The Florida Times-Union
January 5, 2006
Pats' Brady is a playoff virtuoso
Jaguars look forward to challenge against QB with three titles and 9-0 playoff record.
By VITO STELLINO
The Times-Union
Tom Brady with a football in his hands in the playoffs is the NFL's version of Michelangelo with a paint brush in his hands.
He's started nine playoff games and won them all, including three Super Bowls in the last four years. He's a half-game ahead of Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr, who went 9-1 in the playoffs, winning five title games and the first two Super Bowls.
Brady, 28, is a virtual lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his career is complete. He will attempt to add to his growing legend when he opens the playoffs Saturday night against the Jaguars. He will attempt to boost his playoff record to 10-0.
The Jaguars' attempt to at least contain Brady will probably be the key to their upset bid .
The Jaguars have been a good second-half team this season. Half of their 12 victories came in games in which they were trailing at halftime. But Brady already has two game-winning fourth-quarter drives in the Super Bowl on his resume.
Jaguars players relish the chance to make their mark in NFL history by becoming the first team to beat Brady in the playoffs.
"Every time we step on the field, we try to make history in some way," said Jaguars safety Deon Grant, who played against Brady in Super Bowl XXXVIII for the Carolina Panthers. "It'd be a great way to start off 2006. We definitely want to go out and hand them the first loss in January.''
The Jaguars held the Colts' Payton Manning to 122 yards in Week 2 but slumped in recent weeks, falling from first to seventh in NFL rankings in passing yardage allowed.
They were torched by Manning for 324 yards in the rematch in Week 14. And although they beat the Cardinals and Texans, they gave up 315 yards passing to Kurt Warner and 295 to David Carr, who burned them for 50- and 53-yard touchdown passes.
"I don't spend a lot of time explaining it when we limited Peyton," said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio. "I don't really care to explain a bad day, either. In 16 games, we had some games that were better than others. We've worked hard at being a good defense and we're going to do that."
Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said the problems have been fixed.
"It wasn't anything in particular. It was a big play here and there," said Mathis, who broke a finger in a Dec. 4 victory at Cleveland, an injury that's healed well enough that he now only wears a Band-Aid. "As long as we don't give up too many explosives [long passes], we've got a good chance of winning the game.''
Added Grant: "Our technique wasn't disciplined. We were doing individual things we hadn't been doing earlier. We realize that.''
Brady has a good trio of receivers in Deion Branch, David Givens and Troy Brown.
"Their receivers don't get much hype, but they have good speed and they're play-makers,'' Mathis said.
Nickel cornerback Terry Cousin, who also played for Carolina in the Super Bowl two years ago against Brady, said he picked up a few pointers in that game.
"There are things in your mind that you should have done. It comes down to playing with good technique and fundamentals,'' he said.
As a team, the Jaguars have only played once against Brady, a 27-13 Patriots victory on Dec. 14, 2003. He passed for 228 yards and two touchdowns. The Jaguars were 5-11 that season, Del Rio's first as head coach.
Now they're 12-4 and, even though they're a eight-point underdog Saturday, Brady isn't going to let them play the disrespect card.
"I don't disrespect Jacksonville. How do you disrespect a team that's 12-4,'' he said at a news conference that was transcribed by the Patriots and e-mailed to the Times-Union.
Brady says the Patriots are a team that hasn't been getting respect because of their 4-4 start.
"I think if there's one team that feels like they're disrespected, it's us,'' he said.
Wide receiver Jimmy Smith laughed at that notion.
"Tell him to switch places with us,'' Smith said. "He has the respect. Trust me.''
The Florida Times-Union
January 5, 2006
Pats' Brady is a playoff virtuoso
Jaguars look forward to challenge against QB with three titles and 9-0 playoff record.
By VITO STELLINO
The Times-Union
Tom Brady with a football in his hands in the playoffs is the NFL's version of Michelangelo with a paint brush in his hands.
He's started nine playoff games and won them all, including three Super Bowls in the last four years. He's a half-game ahead of Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr, who went 9-1 in the playoffs, winning five title games and the first two Super Bowls.
Brady, 28, is a virtual lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his career is complete. He will attempt to add to his growing legend when he opens the playoffs Saturday night against the Jaguars. He will attempt to boost his playoff record to 10-0.
The Jaguars' attempt to at least contain Brady will probably be the key to their upset bid .
The Jaguars have been a good second-half team this season. Half of their 12 victories came in games in which they were trailing at halftime. But Brady already has two game-winning fourth-quarter drives in the Super Bowl on his resume.
Jaguars players relish the chance to make their mark in NFL history by becoming the first team to beat Brady in the playoffs.
"Every time we step on the field, we try to make history in some way," said Jaguars safety Deon Grant, who played against Brady in Super Bowl XXXVIII for the Carolina Panthers. "It'd be a great way to start off 2006. We definitely want to go out and hand them the first loss in January.''
The Jaguars held the Colts' Payton Manning to 122 yards in Week 2 but slumped in recent weeks, falling from first to seventh in NFL rankings in passing yardage allowed.
They were torched by Manning for 324 yards in the rematch in Week 14. And although they beat the Cardinals and Texans, they gave up 315 yards passing to Kurt Warner and 295 to David Carr, who burned them for 50- and 53-yard touchdown passes.
"I don't spend a lot of time explaining it when we limited Peyton," said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio. "I don't really care to explain a bad day, either. In 16 games, we had some games that were better than others. We've worked hard at being a good defense and we're going to do that."
Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said the problems have been fixed.
"It wasn't anything in particular. It was a big play here and there," said Mathis, who broke a finger in a Dec. 4 victory at Cleveland, an injury that's healed well enough that he now only wears a Band-Aid. "As long as we don't give up too many explosives [long passes], we've got a good chance of winning the game.''
Added Grant: "Our technique wasn't disciplined. We were doing individual things we hadn't been doing earlier. We realize that.''
Brady has a good trio of receivers in Deion Branch, David Givens and Troy Brown.
"Their receivers don't get much hype, but they have good speed and they're play-makers,'' Mathis said.
Nickel cornerback Terry Cousin, who also played for Carolina in the Super Bowl two years ago against Brady, said he picked up a few pointers in that game.
"There are things in your mind that you should have done. It comes down to playing with good technique and fundamentals,'' he said.
As a team, the Jaguars have only played once against Brady, a 27-13 Patriots victory on Dec. 14, 2003. He passed for 228 yards and two touchdowns. The Jaguars were 5-11 that season, Del Rio's first as head coach.
Now they're 12-4 and, even though they're a eight-point underdog Saturday, Brady isn't going to let them play the disrespect card.
"I don't disrespect Jacksonville. How do you disrespect a team that's 12-4,'' he said at a news conference that was transcribed by the Patriots and e-mailed to the Times-Union.
Brady says the Patriots are a team that hasn't been getting respect because of their 4-4 start.
"I think if there's one team that feels like they're disrespected, it's us,'' he said.
Wide receiver Jimmy Smith laughed at that notion.
"Tell him to switch places with us,'' Smith said. "He has the respect. Trust me.''
