The Patriots’ First Shot

Good morning! The First Shot provides you with a healthy helping of links to the top Patriots-related stories around the internet to get your day started. Enjoy your breakfast, your coffee, put off your work (just keep an eye out for the boss), and get your early morning football fix. The links begin after the jump…

• Vince Wilfork came up big Sunday in the AFC Championship game, playing one of the best games of his career.
• Who was the MVP of the AFC Championship game? Vote in the poll!
• The loss in Super Bowl XLII is still a sore subject in New England.
• You can listen to audio of the appearances on WEEI Sports radio by Bill Belichick, Vince Wilfork, and Tom Brady.
• Ravens LB Brendan Ayanbadejo has some sour grapes about losing Sunday.
• NFL.com’s Steve Wyche called the Patriots’ win “gritty.”
• The analysts from NBC, the network broadcasting the Super Bowl, gave some initial thoughts on the Patriots-Giants matchup.
• The Patriots will be the home team in Super Bowl XLVI.
• ESPN analysts Trent Dilfer and Merril Hoge discuss the Patriots’ offense matches up against the Giants’ defense.
• Rob Gronkowski’s ankle injury won’t keep him from playing in Super Bowl XLVI.
• WEEI’s Christopher Price provides 10 things we learned about the Patriots on Sunday.