New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, all 325 pounds of him, will be one of the keys to stopping the Seattle Seahawks' top-ranked rushing attack during the Super Bowl. By his own admission, he'll be facing the NFL's best running back in Marshawn Lynch.
2015 Super Bowl: Marshawn Lynch is NFL’s best RB, says Vince Wilfork
The Patriots defensive tackle is ladling out the praise.
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
“It seems like he’s been getting better and better,” Wilfork said of Lynch, according to NFL.com. “The more and more he plays the game, it seems like he kicks it to another gear. And that’s the sign of a great football player. He’s hands down the best back in the game because he can hurt you anytime he has the ball in his hands.”
Lynch finished fourth in the NFL with 1,306 rushing yards and and tied with DeMarco Murray for the league lead with 13 rushing scores.
The ability of Wilfork and the Patriots defensive front to limit those explosive plays and keep Lynch in check will be perhaps the most significant factor in the final outcome. Stopping Lynch is the recipe for success against Seattle -- of the Seahawks’ four losses this season, three have come when he ran for 61 yards or fewer.
Wilfork ranks seventh among 3-4 defensive ends in run stops, bringing down the ball carrier on 8.5 percent of the run snaps he plays, according to Pro Football Focus. Lynch won’t be easy to bring down though -- he leads the NFL in broken tackles.
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