Vince Wilfork scores first career TD

LANDOVER, Md. — Patriots [team stats] defensive tackle Vince Wilfork [stats] held the ball close and trotted off the field. After pouncing on a fumble for his first career touchdown in the first quarter of the Patriots’ 34-27 win over the Redskins, he headed right for the sidelines.

He had a date with his wife, Bianca, who was in the stands.

“I told her, anytime I do anything with a ball — interception, fumble recovery — and she’s in arm’s reach, she’s getting the ball,” said Wilfork, who did deliver the football to Bianca. “She was waiting for me.”

It was the third huge play for Wilfork this year, to go with his two interceptions. He finished yesterday’s game with four tackles, one for a loss.

Patriots defensive end Andre Carter sacked Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman in the Washington end zone. The ball came loose, and Wilfork got up, raced for it, and dove on top of it to give his team a 7-0 lead with 2:54 elapsed.

“I saw the ball come out and basically just tried to get it.” Wilfork said. “Let the refs decide if it’s a fumble or what. I had to fight for it. It’s you against everybody else fighting for the ball. Luckily, I got it and started fast for our defense.”

Grossman was 19-of-32 for 252 yards and two scores, but also threw a late interception to Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo to lose it for the ‘Skins. He knew his fumble was avoidable.

“I felt like I was right on the cusp of getting rid of the football,” Grossman said. “I believe I was cocking back to throw. It can’t happen.”



(bostonherald.com)