Tom Brady was hit 20 times on Sunday — the most of any quarterback in the playoffs and the main reason that Denver was able to advance to the Super Bowl with a 20-18 win over the Patriots. But there was more at work here than a relentless pass rush, home field advantage and loathing. Sports Illustrated:
To the three or four rushers the Denver Broncos sent careening towards Tom Brady on any given down, the five men standing in front of them might as well have been rec league hoopers taking on the Golden State Warriors.