After the New England Patriots completed the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history by scoring 31 unanswered points to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime, there was plenty of credit to go around.

Much was directed toward quarterback Tom Brady, who set a Super Bowl record with 466 passing yards, and legendary coach Bill Belichick. In the Patriots’ last two trips to the Big Game, however, it was another player with a championship legacy who helped secure the victory.

Dont’a Hightower, a two-time national champion at Alabama, changed the outlook of Super Bowl LI with a pivotal strip-sack of Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan midway through the fourth quarter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9dxwCT9JRs

When Hightower came off the edge and jarred the ball loose, it gave New England a chance to score the quick touchdown it so desperately needed.

“You know, I don’t know if (the strip sack) sparked it or it didn’t,” Hightower said after the game, according to NESN. “All I know is coming out of halftime, the defense knew that we had to get a three-and-out or a turnover — something to get moving. We knew that it was really on us to kind of get things moving in our favor, and that’s kind of what happened.”

Hightower’s forced fumble was one of the greatest plays in a Super Bowl that featured several of them.

From his linebacker position, Hightower lined up outside of safety Patrick Chung on the line of scrimmage as the widest man on the left side of the field.

Hightower breakdown 1

New England sent five pass rushers on the play, but Hightower was the only stand-up linebacker on a blitz. Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman was responsible for picking up the extra rusher, but his attention was on the left side of the field.

Hightower breakdown 2

By the time Freeman saw Hightower coming off the right edge, it was way too late. The Patriots linebacker breezed by his blocker with minimal resistance and had a clean shot at Ryan.

Hightower breakdown 3

As Ryan prepared to throw the ball, Hightower reached up to knock the ball free and gave real life to New England’s improbable comeback.

“Honestly, it was not a complicated blitz,” the linebacker said, according to NESN. “I was blitzing outside. I think they’d actually run that play once or twice on the previous series. I guess Freeman didn’t see me outside. I guess he went to chip or check-release and just lost sight of me.

“I saw Matt Ryan with the ball in his hand, and I wanted it. So I took it from him.”

Hightower, who finished the game with two tackles for a loss and the sack, has developed a penchant for coming through when his team needs him the most. Two years earlier, in Super Bowl XLIX, he made another critical play in an improbable victory.

The moment that sticks in everyone’s mind from New England’s 28-24 win over Seattle is Malcolm Butler’s interception on the 1-yard line. Without another incredible effort from Hightower on the play before, however, Butler never has that opportunity.

On 1st-and-goal at the 5-yard line, the Seahawks looked poised to capture their second consecutive championship. Running back Marshawn Lynch took the handoff and appeared to have a clear lane to the end zone and the Lombardi Trophy.

Just before Lynch crossed the goal line, however, Hightower ripped free of Seattle left tackle Russell Okung and made the tackle.

Hightower’s effort on that tackle is just one example of how impactful every single play can be. The fifth-year linebacker has become one of the Patriots’ best defenders, and a vital part of their Super Bowl resurgence.

He might not get the same recognition as New England’s quarterback or head coach, but the impact plays Hightower has made can’t be overlooked.

While Belichick deserves every bit of credit that he’s receiving after his fifth Super Bowl victory as a head coach, he did not hesitate to shine a light on the player who has somehow flown under the radar.

“The Hightower sack was a huge play for us,” Belichick said at his postgame press conference. “We really needed that.”

When a play needs to be made, Hightower knows just how to turn the tide.

William McFadden covers the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama for Saturday Down South. For insight on these two SEC powerhouses, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.