Dont’a Hightower Gets To Andy Dalton, Forces Crucial Safety Vs. Bengals

FOXBORO, Mass — Andy Dalton was having a good game at halftime Sunday, but New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower made sure that didn’t continue in the third quarter.

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback dropped back to pass on a second and 18 from his own 8-yard line with just over seven minutes remaining in the third, but Hightower didn’t give him much time to find a receiver as he zoomed past the line to sack Dalton in the end zone for a safety.

https://vine.co/v/5HvhiMdhjg2

The Patriots were trailing by four at the time, but the safety swung the momentum back to New England, which capitalized with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski on the ensuing drive.

Tom Brady now has 5,000 career completions, the fourth player in NFL history to reach the plateau, joining Favre, Manning & Brees. #CINvsNE

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 16, 2016