Wilfork: 'We showed a heart of a champion'

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Vince Wilfork had a huge impact on Sunday's 52-28 Patriots win over the Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. 

The veteran defensive lineman tipped a passed that resulted in an interception, he recovered a fumble as the Bills were going in for a touchdown before the half and he demolished Bills wide receiver Donald Jones with a crushing hit over the middle as the Patriots used big hits and big defensive plays to turn the tide in the second half. 

The Patriots trailed 21-7 after Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Jones for a 67-yard TD over the middle early in the third quarter. Then the big plays and big hits began.

"Continue to execute," Wilfork said. "We were giving up big plays and we were shooting ourselves in the foot offensively. Just going out in the second half, we just wanted to play better football for 30 more minutes and we got it together. We just kept our poise, and I think we showed a heart of a champion today. Being down on the road, dropped two in a row, backs against the wall and everybody kept their composure. We were poised, we executed well in the critical situations, came up with some big stops, big plays and that's what we're going to need going forward because it doesn't get any easier for us. So we're going to need to put these things together now."

Brandon Spikes forced two Bills fumbles that resulted in two of Buffalo's six turnovers on the day. Wilfork said it was Spikes who led the way, setting the stage for Wilfork's huge hit on Jones. 

"Anytime after a big play, you feel good, especially after a big hit," Wilfork said. "I felt good, our defense felt good, the crowd felt good, the Patriots fans we had [in attendance behind Patriots bench]. That was a momentum swing. Sometimes, it's not all about scoring or turning the ball over and stuff like that. It can be a simple play, and it was. And once we had that play, everything fell into place for us and that's what we're going to need and you don't know what it's going to be each week. But whatever it is, we need to figure it out, because I like that feeling."

For more from Chris Price and Mike Petraglia on site at Ralph Wilson Stadium, visit the Patriots team page at weei.com/patriots and the blog It Is What It Is.