At the snap, tight end Luke Willson kicks out the edge defender in linebacker Akeem Ayers while safety Patrick Chung takes a crunching block from Tukuafu. On the inside, left tackle Russell Okung (#76) and left guard James Carpenter (#77) double-team defensive end Chandler Jones, and then Okung quickly peels off to meet Hightower at the second level.
Although defensive tackle Sealver Siliga manages to disengage from his block, the defender’s pursuit from the backside falls short of the ball carrier. As Lynch crosses the line of scrimmage, the only obstacle remaining between him and the goal line is the seemingly blocked Hightower.
But the linebacker displays strong technique as Okung approaches. He aligns his feet with the shoulders of the blocker before extending both arms for maximum power. By punching his hands high to Okung’s shoulders, Hightower shunts the momentum of the blocker and avoids engagement, thus locking out the left tackle’s block attempt.
With Lynch pressing outside, Hightower fully disengages by driving low through the hip of Okung and, in one fluid motion, cuts out the legs of Lynch, crumbling the running back to the ground just feet short of a legendary touchdown.