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2011 in a Nutshell: From field level, as well as the catwalk at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday night, I saw Tom Brady feel the pressure in Super Bowl XLVI. The pressure to do a bit too much; the pressure to deliver perfect throws. In the end, this pressure overwhelmed the two-time MVP, causing him to have happy feet in the pocket. It was the play of a man with colossal weight on his shoulder pads, week in and week out.

The New England Patriots had a nice run in 2011-12 -- despite the misconception that they were a "great" team -- because Brady often played at a superhuman level. An inconsistent ground attack, and a secondary that saw the backs of receivers more often than the front, were the usual wet blankets.

What Went Right: Much of New England's success -- a...

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Related Topics: super bowl xlvi, new england patriots, New York Giants, NFL