Wilfork, Warren, Entire Run Defense Out at Bills

The Patriots will be hurting without the "Big Daddy" Sunday | Courtesy Patriots.com

If Vince Wilfork ever wanted his chance to prove his worth to the Patriots, the free-agent to be will have his chance on Sunday.  Wilfork, who has stepped up as a big-time leader for the Patriots defense this season, will get his chance by actually not playing at all.

The premiere run stuffer, who enjoys long walks in the beach and eating up double teams for breakfast, was one of six Patriots players downgraded to out Saturday night.  The others?  Fellow defensive lineman Ty Warren, who is another premiere run stuffer having one of the best years of his career, Fred Taylor, nose tackle Myron Pryor, tackle Nick Kazcur, and guard Stephen Neal.

With three top players out, the Patriots will obviously have some problems along the defensive line tomorrow, especially against the run attack.  The Bills feature a two-headed running game led by Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, and with a sub-par passing attack, they will probably look to attack the Patriots on the ground all day.

Needless to say, with Wilfork and Warren out, it will be a tough task for the Patriots tomorrow, especially considering how well this Buffalo team played the Patriots in week one.  The Patriots will likely start Mike Wright and Jarvis Green at the ends, with Ron Brace/Titus Adams inside at nose tackle.  However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots played a lot of four man fronts, putting Tully Banta-Cain, Derrick Burgess, and maybe even Adalius Thomas at the ends, with Green/Wright/Adams moving inside at times.

No matter the case, the Patriots will now surely have their work cut out for them against a better-than-advertised Buffalo Bills squad.