There was no need this week for Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Malik Jackson to thump his chest or give a fiery speech to teammates about his history with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
All Jackson had to do was turn on the tape.
Two seasons ago, Jackson was part of a Denver Broncos defense that battered Brady, hitting him a staggering 17 times and sending him home with a 20-18 loss in the AFC final. Two weeks later, the Broncos won the Super Bowl over Carolina.
With the Jaguars set to face Brady on Sunday for the conference title, Jackson planned to hit the “play” button on that Patriots-Broncos game with the hope it would encourage teammates as they prepare for the game.
“On every level (of that Broncos defense) there’s Pro Bowlers and people that we idolize,” Jackson said. “If you can watch that guy and how he did it and what he did to get that game, maybe you can take something from it and use it.”
Teammates need to look no further than Jackson’s effort to see what’s required to beat Brady. The final stat sheet reads two tackles and three quarterback hits, but his impact felt greater than that.
“To see the way they tortured Brady, the way Von (Miller) just tortured Brady that whole game and how he took over that game, that’s something that I’m probably going to be watching the whole week,” defensive end Dante Fowler said.
One play Fowler – and the rest of the defensive line – should pay attention to was made by Jackson in the second quarter.
In a three-point stance to Brady’s left, Jackson used a perfectly timed stunt to the outside to bust free and hit Brady, who was loaded for a throw deep down the left sideline.
The hit left Brady’s shoulder pad hanging out of his jersey and grass covering parts of his uniform. The result was a wobbling pass that was intercepted.
Brady finished with a 56.4 quarterback rating that remains the second-worst of his 35 career playoff starts.
“If they watch it, they watch it,” Jackson said. “They’re going to prepare how they’re going to prepare. I’m not going to tell them to do anything different. I’m just going to tell them a little inside (information).”
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