Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton Boosts Broncos’ Defensive Line in Playoffs

Tom Brady (12) is brought down on fourth and two by Denver Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton (94) in the second half of the 2013 AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Forget the Pot. Remember the Roast.

While this year’s Super Bowl may be dubbed “Bowl Bowl” and jokes about the kick off time being moved up to 4:20 p.m. prevail, let’s take a look at the only Pot worth mentioning. Yes, Denver Broncos defensive tackle Terrance “Pot Roast” Knighton.

Much like the traditional family meal, Pot Roast is hearty and takes up space on Denver’s defensive line at a relatively cheap cost.

Knighton was the main course in Denver’s 26-16 win over New England in the conference championship. He had four tackles (two for a loss), a sack, and two quarterback hits.

Don’t be surprised of Tom Brady swears off the Roast for the next few years.

Knighton made the team’s biggest defensive play when the Patriots were going for it on 4th-and-short in the third quarter. He blew his way past guard Logan Mankins and took Brady down for the sack.

“A lot of times I’ll be watching film, last game I felt like I could have done the same move,” Knighton said. “The protection lined up right, the same thing I was seeing on film, I knew exactly were I was going to get and I just had to make the play.”

That’s why he took rookie Sylvester Williams’ place on that play after the timeout.

Knighton wasn’t one of the guys motivated from last year’s playoff loss to Baltimore. That’s because he signed with the Broncos in the off season, following Jack Del Rio, the coach that drafted him in the third round in 2009.

The 335-pound tackle signed a two-year deal worth $5 million.

Early in the season, the Broncos told Knighton that he needed to drop some weight to be more effective. He took off 25 lbs. and became a permanent fixture in the team’s rotation.

Knighton has been particularly effective in helping the Broncos stop the run. Last week, the Chargers were held to 65 yards on the ground. The Patriots were limited to 64 rushing yards, and LeGarrette Blount was held to 6 yards on 5 carries after he ripped off 166 yards and four touchdowns against the Colts in the divisional round.

For a team that lost Derek Wolfe and Kevin Vickerson up front, Knighton has proved to be old reliable. Yeah, “Pot Roast” is an appropriate moniker in more ways than one.

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