KANSAS CITY — Rarely does Tom Brady allow his mind to wander back to the Super Bowl following the 2007 season.
Steve Spagnuolo is a big reason why.
The Patriots had rolled to the NFL's championship game in search of perfection, and their star quarterback had been the embodiment of their success. Brady had dominated defenses all year, including the one Spagnuolo coordinated for the New York Giants in their regular-season finale, and few thought anything would be different in the big game.
Well, the Giants wound up sacking him five times. Spags' game plan held Brady to 266 yards passing, his second fewest of the season, and the Patriots to a season-low point total, allowing New York to triumph 17-14 in Arizona.