Wilfork can sympathize with his coach
FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork said he can sympathize with what coach Bill Belichick is going through in dealing with the loss of his father, Steve, who died Saturday night.
Wilfork considered quitting football after both of his parents passed away, about six months apart, in 2002.
''When my mother went into the hospital [after a stroke], I missed a game to go see her, and when she passed, it was right before a bowl game and I was thinking about hanging it up," Wilfork said. ''I was thinking, 'My career is over, because the two things in my life that I love the most, what I'm playing for, are gone.'
''Friends and coaches talked to me and basically it came down to one thing: 'If they were here today, what would they want you to do?' "
Wilfork said the answer was to play. It is something his father had encouraged him to do, and it is something Wilfork said he feels he and Belichick likely have in common in this trying time, so that is probably why Belichick was on the sideline yesterday.
''I think in his mind he's thinking the same thing: 'My father would want me here, coaching in front of you guys, doing what I love.' And he did," Wilfork said. ''Even though we put together two wins for the first time this season, as a unit, as a team, as an organization, [the situation] makes this win more special because of what Bill's going through."
Wilfork said the postgame celebration was tempered.
''We usually break it down, we're happy and jumping, and hugging. Today we were happy, but it wasn't that same loud breakdown," Wilfork said.
It's a snap
Russ Hochstein, subbing for the injured Dan Koppen, played a solid game at center, according to quarterback Tom Brady.
Koppen, injured against Miami last week, is out for the season with a separated shoulder.
''We didn't fumble a snap, so that was a big bonus," Brady said.
Hochstein said he would have to see the tape to gauge his performance, but he felt OK about it after the game.
''We worked hard all week to make sure were on our snaps and we tried to do the best we could to make our calls," he said. ''It's something I'm comfortable with and hope to get more comfortable with as we go on."
Brady was sacked three times (for minus-28 yards), but the Patriots ran for 132 yards, their second 100-yard day this season. Three of the starters yesterday -- Hochstein and tackles Nick Kaczur and Brandon Gorin -- were backups entering the season.
With starting tailback Corey Dillon out (right calf), Heath Evans (16 rushes for 74 yards) and Patrick Pass (13 for 53) handled the carries.
''If we run the ball 25-plus times, [or] in the 30 range, and average 4 yards a carry, nine times out of 10 we'll come away with the victory," said Pass, who would have had a better day had he not been tossed for a 10-yard loss on his last carry, as the Patriots tried to run out the clock.
Evans had another 20-yard run, to go with a 21-yarder against Miami. Dillon has only one rush of 20 yards or more this season.
Stops start back up
For the second consecutive week, the Patriots' run defense showed marked improvement.
After allowing 116 or more yards in five straight games, the Patriots held Miami to just 77 yards a week ago, and allowed the Saints only 87, a total bolstered by a 20-yard scramble by Aaron Brooks on the last drive of the game.
''The front line did a good job of stopping the running game," said Saints running back Antowain Smith, who led New Orleans with just 32 yards on 11 carries. ''They made the plays when they had to.
''I really didn't get it going. You have to credit their defense. They were moving around a lot before the ball was snapped trying to confuse us."
The Patriots did an exceptional job stalling the Saints on first down. Minus Brooks's burst, New Orleans ran for just 41 yards on 12 first-down carries.
Grabbing headlines
Linebacker Mike Vrabel turned offensive playmaker again, this time catching a 1-yard touchdown pass from Brady in the second quarter.
Lining up at tight end, Vrabel got a free release and went uncovered into the end zone to grab his sixth career touchdown pass (four in the regular season). Each pass Vrabel has caught in his career went for a score. He also scored a touchdown on a 24-yard interception return against Carolina earlier this season.
Vrabel has more touchdowns this season than receivers Troy Brown, David Givens, and Bethel Johnson, who all sat out yesterday's game with injuries. In fact, Deion Branch (4 TDs) is the only Patriot wideout with more 6-pointers than Vrabel.
Hawkins no dove
Newcomer Artrell Hawkins, signed by the team last Wednesday, got into the action early, playing on the opening kickoff, and coming in on third downs as the nickel cornerback. Hawkins, who committed an illegal chuck in the second quarter, finished with one tackle, and was part of the double team that resulted in Eugene Wilson's interception on the last play of the game. Hawkins had not played since last season with the Panthers. ''This is the best job in the world and when you get away from it for a while it's hard to even watch it," Hawkins said. ''I cherish every moment I was out there. It's a challenge to come to a new setting and try to integrate yourself into a new system, but it's been done before -- it's not rocket science." . . . Brown (foot) dressed but did not play. Johnson, who injured his pelvis midweek, was on the field three hours before kickoff working out for strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik but didn't move well enough to play. Givens (knee) missed his second straight game, as did starting right tackle Tom Ashworth (knee). Linebacker Monty Beisel, who has a back problem, did not suit up for this first time this season . . . The Patriots' 98-yard scoring drive in the first quarter was the team's longest in Gillette Stadium history. It was also the team's longest since Nov. 3, 1996 . . . The Patriots and the Kraft family announced they have raised more than $282,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
