FOXBOROUGH (AP) - Vince Wilfork likes to tangle in the trenches with big running backs. He'll face one of the biggest on Sunday.
The next load charging at the 330-pound defensive tackle of the New England Patriots will be 240-pound Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams, a durable player who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the last seven seasons.
The Patriots had a red-eye flight to London on Thursday night for the game.
Jackson isn't having one of his better years. He's just 20th in the NFL with 380 yards rushing, a pace that would give him 869 for the season. He didn't score his first touchdown until last Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers. But the Patriots know his size and speed make him dangerous.
