DENVER — Tom Brady’s dominance of Peyton Manning is kid stuff compared with what he’s done to Jack Del Rio.
Brady might be 10-4 all time against Manning, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone the Patriots star quarterback likes to see on the opposing sideline more than the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.
Brady is 7-0 in his career against defenses overseen by Del Rio, including 5-0 against the Jaguars when Del Rio was Jacksonville’s head coach. Two of those five victories against the Jags were in the playoffs.
That doesn’t bode well for Denver in Sunday’s AFC Championship game at Sports Authority Field, considering Brady will be leading the Patriots once more against a Del Rio defense.
Not only is his record against Del Rio spotless, but Brady also has torched the former NFL linebacker in those games. In the seven contests, Brady has completed 73 percent of his passes (171-of-235) for 1,771 yards and 17 touchdowns without a single interception.
Perhaps through gritted teeth, Del Rio told Denver reporters last week the reasons for Brady’s mastery of his defenses are no mystery.
“I just think [Brady] is a good player and prepares hard,” Del Rio said. “They do a nice job with their schemes and he’s an accurate passer. He’s a smart guy, a competitive guy.”
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is trying to make a low-key return to Denver, where he still is an unpopular figure after his brief, disastrous stint as the Broncos coach.
McDaniels used a first-round pick on Tim Tebow, was caught in a videotape cheating scandal and alienated most everyone in the franchise before being fired after a 3-9 start in 2010 — in just his second season as coach.
McDaniels didn’t have anything to say about his return last week, but Brady stood up for his play-caller.
“We haven’t ever talked too long about his situation there,” Brady said of McDaniels. “I know it’s something he dealt with and that’s in the past for him. He’s one of the best coaches that I’ve ever been around, and I love being coached by him because he brings it every day.
“He’s a great motivator,” Brady added. “He’s fired up, as we all are.”
The sale of marijuana is now legal in Colorado, but Bill Belichick didn’t appear worried about any of his players partaking during their trip to Denver this weekend.
Pot might be legal in the state, but it’s still a violation of the NFL’s drug policy to test positive for it.
“I think they all know what the policy is on that,” Belichick deadpanned last week.
Brady said he was “hopeful” legal weed wouldn’t be a temptation for his teammates. “This is a very important game for us, and it’s a business trip,” Brady said.
The Patriots arrived in Denver on Friday, roughly 24 hours earlier than they normally would for a Sunday road game, and did so in part to adjust to Denver’s mile-high altitude.
Belichick said his players were already prepared for the altitude, though.
“That’s what being a well-conditioned athlete is, being ready to play in different conditions,” he said.