National Football League

Pierre-Paul: Giants rattled Tom Brady

Published Feb. 2, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul believes he and his fellow linemen rattled Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the team's victory at New England earlier this season.

"He did react to pressure that didn't exist, and he was just throwing the ball places where there wasn't even a receiver there," the Giants' second-year defensive end said Thursday about the 24-20 Week 9 win.

Pierre-Paul did not even sound too impressed with the job the Giants did on Brady in the game, saying the Giants are capable of creating even more pressure and rattling Brady some more in Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday.

"Imagine us getting there even faster and actually doing our jobs and getting hits on him," said Pierre-Paul, who had 16.5 sacks this season and made the Pro Bowl.

But Pierre-Paul said he understands that if the Giants do not get pressure on Brady it could be a long day.

"He's a great quarterback," he said. "If you give him time in the pocket to pick on your secondary and throw the ball, he is going to hurt you. Us, as a D-line, we know that the pressure is mostly going to be on us. If we don't rush, then he has all day to throw the ball. Everybody knows that."

The Giants' success at getting pressure on the quarterback is based on rotating fresh defensive linemen among Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Chris Canty and Dave Tollefson.