LINEBACKER

The Patriots clearly believed they could exploit the interior of the Rams offensive line, and they did so with Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy.

Hightower beat guard Rodger Saffold for a sack late in the second quarter. On a third-and-7 in the third quarter, Hightower split center John Sullivan and guard Austin Blythe for another sack (Greg Zuerlein still converted the ensuing 53-yard field goal). Hightower drove back right tackle Rob Havenstein on a third-and-6 with the Rams backed up to their own goal line, forcing a Jared Goff incompletion.

On a third-and-2 in the second quarter, Van Noy covered the middle and took away a short throw to Robert Woods, then charged Goff and closed rapidly for a 14-yard sack. He got a pressure and a hit on Goff with 5:53 remaining in the game.