Malcolm Butler was a no-name rookie when he intercepted Russell Wilson at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX to secure the fourth Super Bowl title for the Patriots. Two years later, the Patriots cornerback has gone from unknown to one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl last season and was named second-team All-Pro this year.
His assignment Sunday will be covering Steelers All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown, and the matchup could go a long way toward deciding if the Steelers or Patriots advance to the Super Bowl.
"I have a lot of respect for him," Brown said. "He is a follow-type corner. He is going to be there. I am excited about having that opportunity."
Brown has gotten the better of the matchup when they two have squared off the past two times the Steelers played the Patriots. Brown has 15 receptions for 230 yards in those two games _ the 2015 opener at Gillette Stadium and the regular-season meeting at Heinz Field in October.
Butler did record one of his four interceptions of the season on a pass that was intended for Brown in the end zone in the game in October. Backup quarterback Landry Jones threw that pass because Ben Roethlisberger was out with an injury.
"He's a highly competitive guy," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. "Technique-wise, he's so sound. He does a tremendous job with leverage, knowing where he has help and he's just ultra-competitive to the football."
Roethlisberger is well aware of Butler's skills as a playmaker, too. He played against him last season in New England.
"I think that he's a very, very good corner that I'm going to have to be aware of where he is, and I think that's as good of a compliment as I can pay someone is that I'm going to keep my eye on him," Roethlisberger said.
NFL Films broke down Butler's Super Bowl interception against Seattle that jump-started his career. Butler anticipated the Seahawks would run the play they did, and he jumped the route. It happened because the coaches made sure all of the Patriots corners had a chance to take reps on the exact play in the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
Butler continues to play the same way in his third season. He'll take calculated chances based off film study, and the Steelers must be aware of their tendencies when he is targeted.
"He covers down the field," Roethlisberger said. "He's very quick in underneath stuff. He obviously studies, and I don't want to say he guesses, but he's able to jump routes and understand what's going on. Then his ball skills, when the ball's in the air he doesn't panic. He can make a play on it and intercept it and not just bat it away."
