FOXBORO -- The challenges posed by the Broncos defense are many. Just ask Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
"I think that’s the hard part about playing them," Brady said, "is there aren’t a lot of things you look at on film and go, 'Wow, I really want to run that again.' "
Or let let offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels explain.
"I think they’re in the top five in every category that you can discuss," McDaniels said. "Yards, rushing yards, passing yards, points, third-down, first-down, turnovers, sacks. This is the best group we’ve played all year."
Denver has Pro Bowlers in the secondary in corners Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, while defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has the ability to turn loose an equally-talented pass-rush up front led by outside linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.
Together, the Broncos coverage and pass-rush may be able to force Brady to hold onto the football longer than he would like to hold it and throw it from a spot he'd rather not.
What happens then? Brady may have to get on his horse. Or, in Julian Edelman's words, mimic a horse.
New England Patriots
"Any time the Clydesdale gets running, the crowd goes crazy," Edelman told reporters after New England's win over the Chiefs in the Divisional Round, during which Brady ran for a 10-yard gain and nearly got into the end zone.
Brady was asked about Edelman's comparison during a press conference on Thursday.
"Yeah, I probably looked like a Clydesdale when I was running in that Combine video 16 years ago, too," he said. "So, at least I haven’t slowed down. At least I’ve maintained it. Hopefully I’ve improved it a little bit."
Brady has, over the last few seasons, worked on increasing his mobility as he's seen younger and more athletic quarterbacks enter the league and show off their ability to make plays with their legs. For the quarterback with an insatiable hunger to improve, it was one of the glaring weaknesses in his game.
"It’s definitely something that I’ve worked a lot at the last couple of years, because there was a point where I felt like that was becoming a real problem for me as a player -- not being able to extend anything," Brady said. "So, I think that’s been a big point of emphasis the last two or three years, was how to buy everybody more time. I think we’ve done a better job of that the last couple years than I did maybe four or five years ago.
"If it’s to move to throw, I think that’s always a good thing, because we’re probably gaining more yards than it would be if I start running. But if I have to run, I think that could be a pretty frustrating thing for a defense, too, because they’re saying, 'How could I let this guy run? Of all the things, this guy?' "
Whether or not Brady will have the Broncos cursing themselves out on Sunday remains to be seen. But at least running is an option now. And against the No. 1 ranked defense in the league, the Patriots would likely benefit from having as many outs as it can get.