BOSTON (CBS) — Ravens safety Ed Reed has been fined $21,000 by the NFL for hitting a defenseless player in the head/neck area on Sunday night.

Reed drew the suspension for his hit on Deion Branch in the third quarter Sunday in the Ravens’ game against the Patriots. Branch came ran his route and broke toward the middle of the field. A split-second after catching the ball, Reed lowered his head and delivered a heavy hit on Branch. Branch did appear to duck as he braced for impact.

Branch dropped the pass, but Reed was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Branch shook hands with Reed shortly after the play and stayed in the game.

Reed also delivered a hard hit to Julian Edelman in the end zone earlier in the same game, but was not flagged or penalized for that hit.

Pittsburgh’s Ryan Mundy was also fined $21,000 this week for his hit that sent Oakland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey to the hospital.