Super Bowl 2012: Giants' D-Line Proves to Be Tom Brady's Kryptonite Again

You knew that Eli Manning would have a say in the final outcome of Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, but you also knew that the New York Giants would have to pressure three-time champion Tom Brady throughout the game.

And pressure him they did.

Brady was only sacked twice on Sunday, both courtesy of Justin Tuck, but he was pressured numerous times by the likes of second-year star Jason Pierre-Paul.

From the Patriots' first drive of the game, you could tell Brady was in line for a rough day. Facing pressure from Tuck, Brady was called for intentional grounding while still in the end zone, which resulted in a safety.

The Giants' vaunted pass rush was in his face from there on out, apparently undeterred by a strong offensive line that included guard Logan Mankins and tackle Matt Light.

This wasn't much different than the last Super Bowl that Brady and the Patriots lost to the Giants, by the way. Four years ago, Brady was sacked five times in the Patriots' 17-14 loss, two of which came at the hands of—you guessed it—Justin Tuck.

While several players had come and gone since then, including former star Michael Strahan, the Giants' method of victory was the same: pressure Brady at all costs.

It's a pretty simple idea. However, the fact is, few teams this season had been able to pressure Brady as he sat behind the Patriots' formidable offensive line.

Yet the Giants did, just like they did in Week 9 when they sacked him twice and pressured him into two interceptions and a fumble.

The Giants' defensive line has once again become Tom Brady's kryptonite, making a seven-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer look frustrated and confused.