3 ways the Atlanta Falcons can slow down Tom Brady in Super Bowl 51

1. The Falcons’ defense has to get to Tom Brady early

It’s easier said than done but the Atlanta Falcons have to make a statement early and lay a big hit on Tom Brady. If there’s one thing that teams have done when they have success against the Patriots, it’s that they’re able to get pressure early against the quarterback. Brady gets the ball out so quick it’s almost impossible.

The Falcons got after Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers early which helped turn things in their favor. We saw the Patriots play arguably their worst game of the season when the Houston Texans got pressure on Brady in the Divisional Round.

He’s a legend, he’s incredible and he’s going to have a big day. That doesn’t mean the Falcons can’t help themselves and try and get him to force some mistakes along the way. We see what happens when teams don’t get pressure on Brady and he has all day to throw and pick them apart.

The Falcons can’t win this football game if they don’t get any pressure on him. Having a veteran like Dwight Freeney is key here. He has battled Brady his entire career and knows that defensive lines just don’t get after him when he’s got the ball in his hands.

It’s going to take different types of pressures and if they sell out on a blitz, they have to get there or it’s six the other way. No one is going to stop Brady but they can slow him down and the Falcons have the pieces to make it happen.