VINCE WILFORK: PATS' DEFENSE TOO INCONSISTENT

Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork made his weekly appearance on The Big Show Monday, discussing the team's loss Sunday in Buffalo and taking a look ahead to next week's meeting with the 2-1 Raiders.

The Patriots led by a score of 21-0 in the second quarter before the Bills mounted a comeback and won, 34-31. The Bills joined the Packers and Lions as the league's only 3-0 teams, while the Pats fell to 2-1.

"That game could have easily gone either way," Wilfork said. "I just hate when we give a game away. Some of the things we did were not like us, but it happened. You learn from it, you coach from it.   As players, you have to learn from it and get better. That's one thing we want to do, is get better. If we don't, we're going to be in trouble." 

Wilfork put much of the blame for the loss on the defense, which allowed big plays throughout the game to the likes of Buffalo running back Fred Jackson and receiver Donald Jones. The Patriots have allowed the most passing yards to opponents and have allowed 79 points through three games.

"It's always crucial to be a persistent football team, and right now, I think [we're] inconsistent as a defense," Wilfork said. "You can put our defense there. Inconsistent. We show flashes on the film where when we do it right, it's not a problem. Early on in the game, even later in the game when we had them backed up the first time three and out, we got off the field and then come right back around and [they] go 90-plus yards, or whatever it may be. There are things that we certainly have to get better at, but we have to play more consistent. If we don't do that, it's going to be a long season for us. 

"Guys are trying. I don't question any of our guys' toughness. I don't question of those guys' ability. They want to do the right thing, but you know what? When you play the game of football, you win some, you lose some. … We have to get back on track, and that starts with a good week of practice. One thing we can't allow is for last game against the Bills to carry over in Oakland." 

Wilfork described the Raiders as a team that thrives on "down and dirty football." Oakland is coming off a 34-24 victory over the Jets on Sunday.
"They present a physical team," Wilfork said. "They want to play smashmouth football. They're old school. That's what they want to do. Once again, we'll be challenged."

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(weei.com)