Seems to me that was more than merely a football. That was this entire game.
Only the grid gods know for sure what would have transpired if Vince Wilfork hadn’t flopped on that ordinary, brown Wilson NFL game football on the Miami 38-yard line a little more than four minutes into the third period. What we do know is that neither team was the same from that moment on.
We know that the Dolphins had dominated the game and were leading, 17-3. We know that the Patriots ripped off 27 points before the visitors scored again. And we know that with yesterday’s 27-24 victory, the Patriots have the bye and are a step closer to the coveted AFC top seed.
A lot of times a so-called “turning point’’ in a professional athletic event is nothing more than a journalistic contrivance. This was not one of those times.
After landing on that prized pigskin, the big man ran off the field with it. You can pretty much bet that one’s going back to Chez Wilfork. He knew how important it was.
“That play seemed to spark us,’’ he acknowledged.
“Huge, huge,’’ agreed Tom Brady.
“One play turned into a bunch of plays,’’ added Wilfork. “Once we got it, it opened up everything else on offense, special teams, and defense.’’
Full disclosure: The play wasn’t the result of any Patriot brilliance. Miami quarterback Matt Moore, who to that point in the game had thoroughly out-Bradyed Brady, fumbled that third-and-8 snap from center Mike Pouncey. The ball was lying there. In theory, anyone in the vicinity could have had it. Wilfork happened to be the closest guy.
“Miscommunication,’’ Moore explained. “Can’t have it. Just have to communicate better. Loud stadium, and just have to be on top of it, which we were not.’’
Nope, No. 75 was on top of it, and nobody gets it away from him.
