FOXBORO -- Tom Brady took a hard shot to his right leg early in the third quarter, and he admitted after the game that he was still feeling the hit's effects.
"It's a little sore," he said. "But . . . a lot of guys are pretty sore."
The Patriots may feel fortunate that sore is all Brady felt.
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Two minutes and 35 seconds into the third quarter, Brady dropped back to pass and looked to his right for tight end Rob Gronkowski as Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor beat Marcus Cannon and charged into the Patriots backfield. When Brady prepared to throw, Chancellor dove low, his helmet making contact just above Brady's right knee. Brady's right cleat was not planted firmly on the ground at the time of the hit, which may have helped him absorbed its impact.
The play was flagged for roughing the passer, and the Patriots picked up 15 yards, but Brady was visibly shaken up by the hit. He bent at the waist, doubled over, crouched down, and repeatedly flexed his leg as if to keep it loose.
New England Patriots
Brady remained in the game and led the Patriots on a 10-play drive that traveled 91 yards and finished with a LeGarrette Blount touchdown run. When Brady was next on the sidelines, he was spotted talking with head trainer Jim Whalen and applied what looked like a heating pad to the affected area.
Brady was asked after the game if he was playing through pain and if his injury may have contributed to his fumbled snap on New England's final possession near the Seattle goal line.
"No. It didn't have any impact," he said. "Lot of guys playing through pain out there."