The former Miami Hurricane, who is used sparingly on third downs usually, was on the Gillette Stadium turf for 74 plays on Sunday night, and he was in there making plays (six tackles, fumble recovery) when it mattered most as the Pats held on for a 31-27 win.
"I thought he played hard," Belichick said Monday. "He really had an outstanding game. They had a lot of attention directed at him, which is understandable, but he had a bunch of double teams and slides on the protection coming his way and those types of things."
That's where Wilfork's impact is felt the most. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound tackle commands a ton of attention. He clogs the middle of the line, and allows linebackers and members of the secondary to step up and fill the open gaps.
Not only that, he has evolved into one of the team's vocal leaders. He was named a team captain along with Tom Brady, Kevin Faulk and Jerod Mayo prior to the 2010 season.
There's no questioning his value to the team, but is he the best defensive tackle in the NFL? Share your thoughts below.
Sunday, Dec. 19: Who's your favorite NFL broadcasting team of all time?
