Vince Wilfork finally puts down a QB in finale

FOXBORO — Vince Wilfork [stats] wasn’t about to be shut out again.

After being held without a sack last year, Wilfork entered yesterday’s regular-season finale in jeopardy of a repeat. But the Patriots [team stats] defensive lineman ended his drought with a pair of third-quarter sacks in a 38-7 win over the Miami Dolphins [team stats] at Gillette Stadium.
“I joke with (defensive line coach Pepper Johnson) all the time that I can’t go 0-for again this year,” Wilfork said. “And you know what, God answered my prayers and I made a couple of plays today.”

Wilfork broke through Miami’s line on a first down early in the third quarter and drilled quarterback Chad Henne. Wilfork’s first sack in 33 games was marred by a 15-yard personal foul for a helmet-to-helmet hit.

Wilfork seemed surprised his hit drew a flag, and three plays later he took out his displeasure on Henne, dropping the quarterback for a 7-yard loss on third down.

“All year we’ve been working our tails off rushing the passer, and every time I come free either he’s getting rid of the ball or someone’s picking me up or (there is) a scramble — whatever it may be,” said Wilfork, who earned his third Pro Bowl selection this season. “I was pretty excited to come in and be able to get a sack.”

Wilfork highlighted another strong day by the Pats defense. The unit, which was maligned early in the season, allowed an average of 9.4 points in the final five games.

“We fought all year,” Wilfork said. “When things weren’t going well, everybody just pulled together and we fought. And the last couple of weeks or months — I want to say after the Cleveland game — there’s something different about this ballclub. We’re clicking. We just trust one another out there on the field. We put the team first. Everyone is unselfish and we’ve been just having fun.”

For Wilfork, things took a sharp turn after the 34-14 blowout loss to Cleveland on Nov. 7. The Pats have won eight straight games since that wakeup call.

“The road wasn’t smooth all the way and I think the Cleveland game really was a gut check,” Wilfork said. “They beat us down pretty bad — physically, mentally, you name it. They did whatever they wanted to do. I think from that point on guys really buckled down . . . I think from that point on, guys just really hated that taste of losing.”

Wilfork has no desire to experience that taste again, as the Patriots head to the postseason as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

“Any little slippage and your season will be done,” Wilfork said. “We worked hard for a bye, so we deserve it, but at the same time we’re going to make sure we’re taking care of what we need to take care of.”

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(bostonherald.com)