HOUSTON -- The Patriots needed a big play to get back in Super Bowl LI and that's exactly what they got from linebacker Dont'a Hightower during the fourth quarter.
With the Patriots trailing 28-12, and with just 9:40 left in the fourth quarter, the Falcons offense took possession of the football on their own 27-yard line with hopes of chewing up the clock and spitting it out. However, that didn't happen thanks to a wild play from Hightower.
On a third-and-1, Matt Ryan dropped back to pass, and that's when this happened.
Matt Ryan is SACKED.
— NFL (@NFL) February 6, 2017
And FUMBLES!@Patriots ball! #SB51#Patriotshttps://t.co/o1lgQktgrI
That's Hightower smashing Ryan and forcing a fumble that New England's Alan Branch would recover at Atlanta's 25-yard line.
Giving the ball back to Tom Brady in a clutch situation is never a good idea, so you can probably guess what happened next.
Five plays after the fumble recovery, Brady hit Danny Amendola in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown to cut the Falcons' lead to 10. New England then followed that up with a 2-point conversion that trimmed the Falcons lead to 28-20.
.@Patriots TD + 2 point conversion?
— NFL (@NFL) February 6, 2017
YUP.
We've got ourselves a ballgame. 🔥 #SB51https://t.co/ViwzRv75D6
The Patriots were trailing 28-3 at one point, but that's not the case anymore and we now have a game in Houston.
To keep tabs on Super Bowl LI, make sure to head to our live blog. You can also stream the game on Fox Sports Go.