Patriots coach Bill Belichick has prepared quite a few game plans in an attempt to stop Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning over the years, which makes him a good person to talk to a couple of days before Super Bowl XLVIII.
Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News did that and got Belichick to repeat some of the praise he threw Manning’s way after the Patriots lost to the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Belichick said that he looks approaches beating Manning the same way he used to look at beating Joe Montana, explaining that he wants him on the sideline as much as possible to increase the pressure on him to make a play when he does get back into the game.
That’s easier said than done, however.
“In so many ways, because of his talent and because of how good he is at the strategy and the execution of his offense, it is the ultimate challenge,” Belichick said.
Belichick wasn’t without tips for the Seahawks, however. He said he didn’t feel the Seahawks defense needed to change much of what they’ve been doing to deal with Manning and that Seattle would be well served by getting an early lead. While he doesn’t think Manning will panic, Belichick said, “in a complimentary way,” that the Broncos are a front running team and pointed out their regular season loss to the Chargers as an example of what he meant.