Vince Wilfork plays big at big times

FOXBORO — Vince Wilfork [stats] was part of a Super Bowl winning team in his rookie season in 2004. The Patriots [team stats] defensive tackle figured he was destined for multiple championships, but learned through a number of postseason disappointments that nothing is guaranteed in the NFL.

That’s what made the Patriots 23-20 win yesterday over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game so sweet for the eight-year veteran.
“Every time you get here is a blessing. You’ve got 32 teams that everybody’s fighting to get to this moment. It didn’t really dawn on me in ’04,” Wilfork said. “Years passed, ’07 came, we lost, and then you’re like, ‘Whoa, you know, this thing is serious.’ I think about every moment. I think about it all the time. It’s a special feeling. To be in this situation was a great feeling but you have to cherish this moment.”

Wilfork did everything in his power to ensure that the Patriots returned to the Super Bowl. The 6-foot-2, 325-pounder took up residence in the Baltimore backfield, recording three of his six tackles — including a sack — behind the line of scrimmage.

Wilfork was especially dominant in a pivotal sequence late. With the Patriots clinging to a 23-20 lead with 3:36 remaining, the Ravens had third-and-3 from the Pats’ 30-yard line. Baltimore attempted a Ray Rice run up the middle, but Wilfork blew up the play for a 3-yard loss.

“To be honest with you, on the run, I think they just cut me loose,” Wilfork said. “I don’t know. I’m always taught when someone (doesn’t) block you, it’s a set up and all. I don’t know if they just missed a block or it was a set-up block and I just beat it.”

On the next play, Wilfork bull-rushed Pro Bowl center Matt Birk and grabbed hold of Joe Flacco. The Baltimore quarterback couldn’t free himself of Wilfork’s grasp and was forced to throw a wild incompletion.

“It was just an adjustment we made on the sideline,” Wilfork said. “We went to a different front and we knew exactly what we had to do and I got the matchup I wanted and we got the matchup we wanted and we took advantage of it.”

Though the defense needed one more stand to seal the victory, Wilfork’s disruptive plays loomed large.

“I thought Vince had a lot of big plays today,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “He leads the way for us on defense — he and Jerod Mayo. Vince is obviously our most experienced player and he’s been a great leader, great captain all year. His leadership has been tremendous.”
It’s helped that Wilfork has had willing followers this season.

“They never gave up,” Wilfork said of his teammates. “They’re very, very passionate about what they do. They love this game and I can take the field with anybody like that.”


(bostonherald.com)