Steelers hoping pressure blueprint can slow down Brady

FILE - In this Oct. 23, 2016, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebackers Jarvis Jones (95) and Anthony Chickillo (56) during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers haven’t been great at pressuring quarterbacks recently, or had much historical success against Brady. But Brady will face a much healthier Steelers' pass rush in the AFC Championship on Sunday, than he did in Week 7’s win. Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier was returning from a knee injury; James Harrison played only 42 percent of the snaps and Bud Dupree was on injured reserve. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)

By Associated Press January 20, 2017 4 min read

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Take it from Wade Phillips, slowing down Tom Brady is a goal often sought, but seldom achieved.

“Good luck,” the new defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams said this week when asked about the difficulty of taking the Patriots quarterback out of his comfort zone. “He’s good no matter what.”

And that’s coming from a guy who’s had at least some recent success bothering Tom Terrific.

Brady enters Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 6-4 record in AFC championship games, including 4-1 at home.

But the constant in each of his losses has been when he’s faced a defense that’s managed to apply pressure up front and forced him into quick decisions in the pocket.