Hightower, New England defense brace for Baltimore
FOXBOROUGH, MASS. (AP)
Dont'a Hightower was two weeks removed from winning the national championship
with Alabama in January when he sat down to watch the AFC championship
game.
Now a rookie linebacker with New England, Hightower remembers the title
game fondly, and not for the reason you may think.
When
asked what he recalled most from that epic clash, a 23-20 win by the
Patriots that propelled them to the Super Bowl, Hightower on Friday
declined to mention former Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff shanking a
32-yard field goal with 11 seconds left that would have sent the game
to overtime.
Instead, he focused on the whole thing.
''The
definition of a football game,'' he said. ''Hard-nosed, coming down to
the wire, guys making big plays whenever they need to. Definitely proud
of the outcome.''
Hightower will play a pivotal part in the
outcome of Sunday night's rematch against the Ravens, who like the
Patriots enter this early season showdown coming off a setback. While
New England (1-1) was busy losing, 20-18, to Arizona, Baltimore (1-1)
allowed Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick to score with just under
two minutes to play, leading the Eagles to a 24-23 comeback victory.
Too
bad for the Patriots, too. As if Baltimore needed any extra motivation
for a nationally televised home game under the lights against New
England.
''I'm living my dream now, just being able to play in
the NFL. Definitely looking forward to this game,'' Hightower said.
''It's definitely going to be a big game. Those guys got a chip on
their shoulder from this past season, so definitely it's going to be a
real good game.''
New England's defense is ranked second in the
league in total yards allowed with 264.5, but is in for a true test
trying to slow Baltimore's offense, led by quarterback Joe Flacco and
running back Ray Rice. The Ravens are averaging 33.5 points per game,
tied for second in the league.
''Everywhere you look on offense,
they have somebody that's special,'' Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork
said. ''You're not talking about one guy, you're talking about the
whole Ravens offense. We're going to have to do a real good job
defensively.''
New England knows it starts and ends with Flacco and Rice, though.
Traditionally
a run-oriented team behind the nimble 5-foot-8, 212-pound frame of
Rice, who is coming off three straight 1,200-yard seasons, Baltimore
now operates more of a pass-heavy offense, allowing Flacco to flaunt a
no-huddle attack that led to a convincing season-opening win over
Cincinnati.
Flacco, now in his fifth season, has always been a threat, perhaps just
overshadowed by Rice and the Ravens menacing defense.
''He's
very physically tough and mentally, don't let much get to him and
that's a big-time leader when you can have a guy - especially the
quarterback - who can be physically and mentally tough. That says a lot
about that guy as an individual and a player,'' Wilfork said. ''He's
playing lights-out right now. Once again, our hands our full up front
dealing with this whole Ravens offense because they're very explosive
everywhere.''
While the Ravens have called 74 passing plays
against just 44 runs so far this season, containing Rice still will be
paramount to the Patriots success. He scored twice on just 10 carries
in the win over the Bengals, and followed that with a 16-carry, 99-yard
performance in the loss to the Eagles.
But it's hardly just his
feet the Patriots need to remain wary of. The dynamic fifth-year back
caught six passes Sunday, and has averaged 72 receptions over the past
three seasons.
First thing's first, though. New England must find him behind
Baltimore's massive offensive line.
''If
Rice gets five carries or 30 carries, he's making a lot of yards,''
linebacker Jerod Mayo said. ''He's strong, fast, has great hands out of
the backfield and he's short, so it's kind of hard to see him at the
same time.
''But he's strong like a big back as well.''
Wilfork
likened this brewing rivalry to a divisional matchup, as this is the
fifth time in the last four seasons these two teams have met. He and
the rest of the Patriots defense know exactly what to expect.
''We're
going to have to play almost a perfect game to walk away on the road
Sunday night with a victory,'' Wilfork said. ''The fans are going to
get everything they want out of this football game.
''If you like being in a tough, physical football game, well, here it
is. Sunday night it will be one.''
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