New England Patriots: Texans’ Wilfork Doesn’t Care About Being Big Underdogs
As MusketFire reported yesterday, the New England Patriots are coming into Saturday’s game against the Texans as heavy favorites to advance to the AFC Championship game next Sunday.
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Don’t tell that to Houston Texans defensive tackle–and former Patriot great–Vince Wilfork, who says he’s seen big favorites fall before on the biggest stage.
"“I think last night we saw a game in Alabama-Clemson, these so-called experts had Clemson as the underdog,” Wilfork said, via ESPN.com. “In ’07, the experts had the New York Giants as underdogs. Both of those teams went on to win — the Super Bowl [Giants] and national championship [Clemson]. So it goes to show you what these experts know.”"
Wilfork, of course, was a part of that Patriots team which fell to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII in one of the biggest upsets in sports history. He now hopes to take the experience from that game and help the Texans shock the football world this weekend.
"“We don’t pay attention to outside, what people have to say about us, how good or how bad we are,” Wilfork said. “I think this team is a close-knit group. We play well together and we keep everything as a family. We approach everything the same, win or lose. I don’t think anything outside will have any impact on how we feel as a team towards one another.”"
The Texans face a daunting task to try and knock off the Patriots in Foxborough, where they’ve never won before in their history and lost there earlier this year 27-0. The Patriots have been upset three times at home in the playoffs since 2001, but New England boasts a top five offense and the number one scoring defense this year as they attempt to win their second Super Bowl in three years.
If Houston is to pull off of the biggest upsets in recent playoff history, they know they’ll have to rely on their number one ranked overall defense, which led the NFL in fewest yards allowed in 2016. Wilfork, who has hinted at retiring at the end of this season, will be a key clog in stopping running back LeGarrette Blount for the Patriots.
But that challenge is one he looks to face head on.
"“We don’t pay attention to outside, what people have to say about us, how good or how bad we are,” Wilfork said. “I think this team is a close-knit group. We play well together and we keep everything as a family. We approach everything the same, win or lose. I don’t think anything outside will have any impact on how we feel as a team towards one another.”"
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15PM Saturday.