The term 'TACKLES THE QUARTERBACK' can be summarized by the crossword solution 'SACKS, ' which is a five-letter word. In American football, a tackle is a defensive move in which a player attempts to stop the offensive player with the ball, usually the quarterback, from advancing. A sack occurs when the defensive player successfully takes the quarterback down to the ground. This is an important defensive move as it can result in a loss of yardage for the offense.