FOXBORO, MA — After dropping their first three decisions in what has been a difficult start for both Patriots place kicker Adam Vinatieri and his team, there’s no need to tell him just how important Sunday’s game against Miami is. This divisional match-up with the Dolphins is an extremely important one as a victory gets them back even at 1-1 within the division, and one step closer to getting back to .500.
Vinatieri has made improvements on his kickoffs and has begun reaching the endzone with regular consistency after working hard during the offseason. He’s missed a couple of field goals so far this season, uncluding a 44 yarder that sailed wide after fellow teammate Lee Johnson had trouble with the hold, but otherwise he’s pleased with how the team has performed on special teams thus far.
“I missed a couple of kicks that I’d like to have back,” said Vinatieri Wednesday. “But all in all I think our special teams are playing pretty well and that will definitely give us an edge in this game if we can continue to play well. Hopefully we can put some points on the board and win some games.”
Despite the 0-3 record Vinatieri said his approach each week hasn’t changed. While many feel that the pressure may be mounting on New England after dropping their first three games, Vinatieri says that every game is important, and the pressure is on everyone to perform consistently each week regardless of the team’s record.
“I think there’s a lot of pressure on every player every single game,” said Vinatieri. “If you don’t play well the league is so competitive and there’s so many good teams that if you don’t play well in a certain game, or if you have a few lapses on a certain play or two bad things can happen. I think the pressure starts to escalate when you’re 0-3, you know that you need to get a win. But all-in-all every game is pretty pressure packed and you just need to go out there and win these games.”
Sunday’s game against Miami is expected to be a hard-fought game, and should he be called on to have to come out and attempt the game winner it’s an opportunity he’ll be looking forward to.
“You never know [what can happen at the end of a game],” said Vinatieri. “It can come down to a kick and you have to kind of embrace that situation and be happy if it comes. If it comes down to that, [then a least] you’ve got a chance to win at the end.”
Adam and the Patriots will attempt to get their first win of the 2000 season on Sunday.
WHIGHAM IMPROVING
Patriots safety and special teams standout Larry Whigham’s spirits are still high despite the knee injury he suffered against the New York Jets in week two that kept him out of action last week and will cause him to miss this week’s game against Miami.
So far he’s been able to put weight on it and is looking forward to hopefully returning in the upcoming weeks.
“The knee is getting better,” said Whigham on Wednesday. “I’m walking on it right now, getting a chance to do some slight jogging on it. I’m not supposed to be doing it, but I’m pushing myslef. I think I’m probably a week or two away.”
The injury so far for Whigham has been the first major injury since he joined the team in 1994, and so far it’s been a difficult time for him, especially considering the team’s current 0-3 start.
“It’s difficult,” said Whigham of being sidelined. “Right now especially because I think I could contribute to our team and our team is losing right now and has been losing. So it’s real frustrating standing on the sideline and I can’t do anything about it, but I’m there supporting our guys and hopefully we can get it turned around this week.”
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
