They will forever be linked in Patriots history for being not only in the same draft class, but also the same round. Former first-round picks Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower have become integral parts of New England's defense since arriving in Foxborough in 2012.
Jones, drafted 21st overall, had the bigger impact sooner, with Defensive Player of the Month honors last November and finishing his second season with 11.5 sacks, after being named NFL Rookie of the Month in September 2012. The defensive end/outside linebacker followed that up this year already with an AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
Hightower, meanwhile, was given significant responsibilities on defense last year as the unit's play-caller when fellow linebacker Jerod Mayo was lost to a season-ending injury early on. This year, though, Mayo is back and Hightower seems to be blossoming, making plays as a pass rusher, in pass coverage, and against the run.
"If my rushing is going to help us win, that's what it is. Me rushing on either side with [Rob] Ninkovich and Chandler, it opens up… them sliding to one side gets the one-on-one matchup that we want," Hightower said Wednesday.
Check out photos of Patriots practice and media access leading up to New England's week three game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR -- Beckham Jr. is more than just one famous catch and certainly hasn't fallen victim to the Madden curse. The young receiver is an impressive, productive playmaker who'll challenge the Patriots pass defense all over the field.
Tom Brady, QB -- While Bill Belichick made it clear this week he doesn't care about such matters, No. 12 was everyone's midseason MVP. He's rolling through a great season and this week faces the worst defense, statistically, in the NFL. Should be a big Sunday for Brady, both in terms of real-world points and fantasy points.
Malcolm Butler, CB -- New England's No. 1 corner has seen plenty of impressive opponents this year from Antonio Brown through Desean Jackson. Now, he'll see a lot of fellow second-year player Odell Beckham Jr. in a battle of the guys who made the two most notable plays in the NFL last season.
Cameron Fleming, OL -- It looks like the second-year practice-squad call-up could be the Patriots only healthy tackle for the second-straight Sunday. That could mean more time at left tackle, which he'd never played before last week, protecting Tom Brady's valuable backside. That's called being thrown into the spotlight.
Dont'a Hightower, LB -- With Jamie Collins likely out of action, Hightower will be in the spotlight to test his versatility against the Giants deep corps of backs. New York uses those horses to run the ball, and then Hightower will need to help deal with Shane Vereen's production out of the backfield in the passing game.
Eli Manning, QB -- Forget about Manning's history of beating the Patriots, Peyton's little brother is simply having an impressive season leading the Giants potentially-potent passing attack. He's easily one of the top handful of quarterbacks New England's suspect secondary will face this season.
Brandon Meriweather, S -- The former Patriots first-round pick Meriweather is in the middle of the Giants putrid pass defense. He's a guy that Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski will clearly look to attack in the passing game.
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE -- The Giants best pass rusher with 12.5 sacks last season before his offseason fireworks accident, Pierre-Paul is expected to add a boost to a New York front that hasn't been able to get to the quarterback this fall. The world is also watching to see if the man they call JPP can return to form given the limitations of his right hand.
Shane Vereen, RB -- Vereen has found a new home in the New York offense. The versatile back leads a crew of Giants backfield playmakers and he'll challenge the Patriots safeties and linebackers in the underneath passing game.
As Jones and Hightower have started off strong in 2014, so has the rest of the defense – a second-half meltdown in Miami notwithstanding. Since the opener, the Patriots defense has limited its next two opponents to less than 10 points each and has come up with several big plays – sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles – in all three games.
"That's a credit to the defense working together. Also a credit to the coaches and their game plans and their play calling," Jones asserted. "[Defensive coordinator] Matt Patricia and Coach Belichick do a good job of knowing when to call blitzes or drop us into coverage, things of that nature, to confuse the offense a little bit, to help us create turnovers or big plays."
"I think it's about execution, knowing what's going on," added Hightower. "You can't just put it on the pass rush or the coverage. It's everything together. Whenever we can get to the quarterback, it makes Devin and Revis' job a lot easier, and when those guys make it hard for receivers to get open, the quarterback holds onto the ball and that makes it easier for us."
Hightower also conceded that not having the play-calling duties may be helping him play more freely and be in position to make an impact than before.
"Coach [Belichick] and Matt Patricia allow me to play outside linebacker, to rush after the passer, but still be able to cover backs, dropping in coverage. Just allowing me to have a bigger role in this defense.
"And that's how I want it. I'm able to rush, to drop [into pass coverage], to cover and double a man. I'm able to do a lot. The offense doesn't know if I'm covering or rushing, so that opens up spaces for everybody else. If they zero in on what I'm doing, that helps someone on the other side get the sack or pick."
"Anytime you can get the sacks and TFLs (tackles for loss) and tackles, it's going to be fun. It's not just fun because I'm doing it," Hightower insisted. "To see Chan block a kick and run it back, see Devin [McCourty] and [Darrelle] Revis get picks, it's fun for the defense. It's something we work countless hours each week. For us to go out and execute and do it well makes it fun."
Monday night excitement
New England's one and only appearance on Monday Night Football this season comes this week, when the Patriots travel to Kansas City – a notoriously difficult venue for visiting teams to conquer, regardless of the Chiefs' record.
Each game on the NFL schedule is equally important in the standings, but there's something extra special about Monday night affairs.
"Yeah, definitely, it's only usually once a year you get to play on Monday Night Football. So, it's going to be a lot of fun," admitted tight end Rob Gronkowski. "We know how the atmosphere is on Monday night, especially when it's on the road. It's going to be crazy, it's going to be loud."
"For sure, for sure. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not [extra excited]," echoed Jones. "Everyone's watching. Everyone and their mother is watching. You have the opportunity to showcase your talent and ability for a nationally televised game. I'm excited."
Practice report
Defensive tackle Sealver Siliga was the only Patriot not on the practice field Wednesday. He was last seen leaving the Oakland game this past Sunday with a foot injury.
With the game taking place on Monday night, the Patriots are not required to submit an injury report until Thursday, so, we won't know more about Siliga's condition until then at the earliest.
