Dont’a Hightower: Patriots’ top defensive priority was to make Jared Goff ‘uncomfortable’

ATLANTA — It’s something every defense seeks to do in every game: get the opposing quarterback out of his comfort zone.

The task became even more of a priority during Super Bowl LIII, when the New England Patriots’ D was going up against Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff.

‘Kind of the goal with any quarterback, but definitely whenever you have a quarterback like that’

“Absolutely, man,” Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower told SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Torry Holt. “Kind of the goal with any quarterback, but definitely whenever you have a quarterback like that with a big arm and a lot of talent around him, you want to make him uncomfortable and get to them off the spot.”

“We just did a good job all around and guys communicating and getting back there.”

Hightower had two of the Patriots’ four sacks. He also was credited with three quarterback hits as part of a game plan that included plenty of scheming up front.

‘A lot of time, they were trying to slide protection and put the tight end and a back on me’

“Different games, one-on-ones,” Hightower said. “A lot of time, they were trying to slide protection and put the tight end and a back on me or put a lot of the line on the other guys. But we just did a good job all around and guys communicating and getting back there.

“I think we got a special guys up front. Some guys can win with games, some guys one-on-ones, everybody was winning.”