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ATLANTA -- It's the obvious question: Who might the Patriots sign to fill the considerable void created with Vince Wilfork reportedly tearing his Achilles?

Some thoughts:

Most likely option. A practice-squad promotion for first-year player Marcus Forston or rookie A.J. Francis.

Forston is a University of Miami alum who has been mentored by Wilfork, also a Miami alum. The Patriots liked Francis enough to claim him on waivers from the Dolphins at the final roster cutdown. Either player would add depth behind Tommy Kelly, Joe Vellano and Chris Jones, who are already on the roster.

If the Patriots stay in-house, the biggest trickle-down effect is that it will likely mean an increased role for Vellano, who opened the year as the third tackle. The undrafted rookie from Maryland averaged 26 defensive snaps per game through Week 3. His snaps obviously spiked considerably higher than that on Sunday night.

Vellano (6-foot-2, 300 pounds), a hard-working player who might be considered undersized by NFL standards but who wins with technique (e.g. third-quarter sack versus Peter Konz on Sunday), was one of the surprise stories of training camp.

Armstead another in-house option, but status unclear. First-year player Armond Armstead, who isn’t eligible to practice until after the sixth week because he’s on the reserve/non-football illness list, is more of a wild card. It is unclear if the former Canadian Football League player, who the Patriots were initially counting on as a No. 3 option at defensive tackle before he underwent surgery for an infection before training camp, will be ready to help the team this year.

Those with past connections. Kyle Love and Ron Brace remain free agents, and while the Patriots released both players in hopes of moving on, perhaps the team would now view them differently with Wilfork injured. In more of a long-shot scenario, Richard Seymour would also fall into that category.

The pure nose tackle type. Similar to when the Patriots traded for Ted Washington in 2003, and then brought in Keith Traylor in 2004, the Patriots could tap the veteran market for a big-bodied, two-down nose tackle type. Would someone like longtime Pittsburgh anchor Casey Hampton have anything left, assuming he'd even be interested? The concern, in general terms, is that an older, bigger nose tackle who hasn't been in a training camp usually is often viewed as a greater injury risk. That's why this is viewed as a less likely option than an internal promotion.

ATLANTA -- Offensive snaps for Patriots skill-position players in Sunday night's 30-23 win over the Falcons, while analyzing what it means:

QB Tom Brady -- 66 of 66
WR Julian Edelman -- 64 of 66
WR Kenbrell Thompkins -- 60 of 66
TE Michael Hoomanawanui -- 54 of 66
WR Aaron Dobson -- 26 of 66
RB Stevan Ridley -- 25 of 66
RB Brandon Bolden -- 23 of 66
FB James Develin -- 21 of 66
WR Josh Boyce -- 18 of 66
RB LeGarrette Blount -- 18 of 66
TE Matthew Mulligan -- 13 of 66
TE Zach Sudfeld -- 8 of 66

(Penalties included. Kneel-down at the end of the first half not included.)

ANALYSIS: Rookie tight end Zach Sudfeld was on for just eight snaps, as Michael Hoomanawanui was the primary tight end, even as the Patriots played a heavy percentage of three-receiver offense, which usually calls for more of a pass-catching tight end. ... Matthew Mulligan's 13 snaps were a season high with the Patriots. ... For the second week in a row, it was a pretty even split among the top three running backs. ... Kenbrell Thompkins and Julian Edelman have been the top two receivers on the depth chart, with Aaron Dobson No. 3 and Josh Boyce No. 4. With Dobson leaving with a neck injury in the third quarter, it contributed to Boyce logging a season-high 18 snaps and catching his first career pass.

ATLANTA -- When building a house, nothing really matters if the foundation isn't sturdy.

When considering what Vince Wilfork means to the New England Patriots -- in light of Shalise Manza-Young's report in the Boston Globe that Wilfork has a torn Achilles and is almost certainly out for the season -- think of a house's foundation.

He's the sturdy guy in the middle, the 6-foot-2, 325-pound mountain of a man with uncommon athleticism whose stats don't always reflect his impact.

Losing him puts the Patriots on shaky ground.

Because foundation players are rare, expect the Patriots to rely on multiple players to attempt to fill the void. There is no one replacement. Right now, it's veteran Tommy Kelly and rookies Joe Vellano and Chris Jones at defensive tackle. It's unclear if Armond Armstead might return to health and be an option when he's eligible to come off the reserve/non-football illnes list.

We've seen Wilfork's impact only grow in recent years. Consider his playing-time stats:

2009: 51.8 percent
2010: 69.8 percent
2011: 86.8 percent
2012: 81.3 percent

The Patriots have overcome injuries to key players in the past, so this isn't anything new to them. But Wilfork's injury ranks as one of the most significant, and one of the toughest voids to fill.

ATLANTA -- Midway through the fourth quarter, we were ready to write it in all capital letters for the New England Patriots: BEST WIN OF THE SEASON.

Then came a near collapse, so let’s just call it the best win of the season.

They did it in the Georgia Dome, one of the toughest places for visitors to emerge victorious. They did it against an Atlanta Falcons team that since 2008 has only lost back-to-back games three times. And they did it after taking control of the game with a commanding 17-point lead with 6:18 remaining. But then they almost gave it away after about half of the sellout crowd had headed to the exits.

Talk about creating your own adversity, then overcoming it. That’s what Sunday night’s 30-23 victory represented for the Patriots: a 60-minute roller coaster of sudden swings with a happy ending.

For those curious how players reacted, it was mostly a happy Patriots' locker room afterward, even though it seemed like quarterback Tom Brady wasn’t in the smiling mood. Maybe he was just exhausted. Or maybe he was peeved that a fumbled snap on fourth down with 1:54 remaining, when the Patriots needed to advance just a few inches to seal the win, nearly cost the team a victory.

Instead, it took cornerback Aqib Talib's fourth-down pass breakup, in the end zone, to finally extinguish the threat.

“We slugged it out,” Brady said early Monday morning. “We came to Atlanta, which is a tough place to play. They have a very good team. It’s nice to win and be 4-0.”

“I’m really proud of the way our team played today,” coach Bill Belichick said. “They made a good example of what it takes to win in the league, and that’s 60 minutes of good football. We have to do a better job of finishing out the game. Obviously we could have played a little better in the end, but it’s good to be 4-0 and get out of here with a win.”

As one player was quick to remind a reporter, few pundits predicted the Patriots would be in this position, which was a reminder that media buzz does resonate inside the locker room walls at times -- stuff like the Patriots defense needing to prove it can shut down a top-level quarterback, or the inconsistent offense being able to hold up its end of the bargain.

There will be fewer questions about the defense after this one, and anyone who might have doubted Talib’s value to the unit has to be having second thoughts. He’s been a big-time difference maker, the first real shutdown man corner the team has had since Ty Law (1995-2004), and he showed it again Sunday night.

But that doesn’t mean there are not concerns. Starting defensive tackle Vince Wilfork left the Georgia Dome with a protective boot on his right foot after being carted to the locker room in the first quarter. Belichick was speaking with Wilfork’s wife, Bianca, outside the team’s locker room after the game -- a conversation that both obviously hoped they wouldn’t be having.

The Boston Globe reports Wilfork has a torn right Achilles tendon and likely is done for the season.
Meanwhile, promoted cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who started in the base defense over Kyle Arrington for the first time this season, hobbled off late and didn’t finish. And rookie receiver Aaron Dobson left in the third quarter with a neck injury and never returned.

So the Patriots left Atlanta a battered team. But it’s safe to say they aren’t as bruised and beaten as the Falcons, who were steamrolled by a power running game that had shades of 2004, when Corey Dillon was tearing up opposing defenses. The Patriots, who owned a decisive size advantage over the Falcons, wanted to play old-fashioned big-boy football.

Wide-smiling 250-pound running back LeGarrette Blount, who romped for a 47-yard touchdown run at the start of the fourth quarter, relayed to the media that that was the crux of Belichick’s message all week -- physical play.

That’s why Brady had only nine pass attempts in the first half, the Patriots preferring to keep it on the ground (they only had three possessions) before their passing game erupted in the second half. Receivers Julian Edelman (7 catches, 118 yards) and Kenbrell Thompkins (6 catches, 127 yards and a TD) were immense.

“I’m just playing football and trusting the older guys to put me in the right spot for the plays that are being called,” said the unassuming Thompkins, whose diving 18-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter was similar to a play he failed to make in Week 2 against the New York Jets.

The play, in a sense, epitomizes the growth that players such as Thompkins and the Patriots have shown in a short time. And if the past is any indication, they should only get better.

When there was 6:31 remaining, and it was 30-13, it didn’t seem like a stretch to say the Patriots were putting together the type of performance that brought back memories of their Super Bowl championship past.

It had all the makings of the BEST WIN OF THE SEASON.

The ending, and near collapse, almost changed everything.

.

ATLANTA -- Observed in the locker room after the New England Patriots' 30-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome:

Physical football the key: The final player to conduct interviews in the locker room was running back LeGarrette Blount, and, to a degree, the bruising 250-pound running back epitomized the team's offensive approach. "We wanted to be physical," he said of the Patriots' power running game. Blount said coach Bill Belichick had stressed that message to players early in the week. In a cramped locker room, it was Blount, fellow running back Stevan Ridley and several offensive linemen who drew big media crowds.

Mostly positive despite near-collapse: While quarterback Tom Brady didn't seem overly enthused, perhaps because of the way the offense couldn't close things out, one player said it was mostly a positive message from Belichick to the players. "Hey, we're 4-0. And we had a lot of doubters out there," one Patriot said, pointing out that the author in this space was one of them. In his postgame news conference, Belichick said: "I'm really proud of the way our team played. They made a good example of what it takes to win in this league, and that's 60 minutes of good football."

Talib's play draws raves: The first player whom media members swarmed was cornerback Aqib Talib, whose pass breakup in the end zone on fourth down sealed the win. Belichick raved about his performance, saying Talib has played well going all the way back to spring camps.

Wilfork's status a natural concern: Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork's wife, Bianca, attends almost every road game, and Belichick was seen speaking with her after the game. Naturally, the Patriots are concerned after Wilfork was carted to the locker room in the first quarter. Wilfork was later spotted with a protective boot over his right foot.

ATLANTA -- There was no hiding from the challenge of facing the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4.

Atlanta boasts one of the most explosive offenses in football, catalyzed by a passing attack that features the NFL’s leading receiver, Julio Jones, and Roddy White, a four-time Pro Bowler.

And on Sunday night, as the game hung in the balance with a last-gasp effort from the Falcons to try to tie it in what would have been a miraculous comeback, it was a defensive player who capped the evening in fitting fashion, as Aqib Talib broke up a fourth-down pass intended for White. The play preserved the Patriots’ 30-23 victory.

“Coach dialed it up,” Talib said after the game. “I was on Roddy. Me and Roddy. He just ran a straight -- like an over route, a crossing route and Matt Ryan put it up. I just had to get to it, break it up.”

And break it up he did, as Talib managed to swat his fourth pass of the evening on a night when he also recorded his league-leading fourth interception.

Talib has been a stabilizing force for the Patriots' secondary since being acquired last season in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Sunday night may have been his best outing yet.

“Aqib’s played great for us all year,” coach Bill Belichick said. “All the way back to the spring, training camp, he’s stepped up when we needed him and he played well. He played the ball well. Played against good receivers, tackled well and just played well. He’s done a good job for us.”

There were times early in the game when the Patriots appeared to use Talib to shadow Jones, who finished the game with 108 yards -- nearly half of which came on one late downfield throw -- but he noted the importance of giving Jones a variety of looks to try to contain the gifted third-year wideout.

“We just switched it up on him, sometimes we doubled him, sometimes we single covered him,” Talib said. “We just tried to do a good job switching it up on him. I think we did a good job. Kept him off balance a little bit.”

The plan worked masterfully through the first half, as Jones entered halftime with just 5 yards on two catches. Things took an abrupt turn late in the fourth quarter when the Falcons successfully recovered an onside kick, and later when they stopped the Patriots on a failed fourth-down play (Tom Brady fumbled the snap).

On the first play of the ensuing drive, the Falcons, down by seven with 1:50 to play, looked long to Jones down the left sideline, connecting on the aforementioned 49-yard completion.

They were in business, it seemed, with a fresh set of downs and the ball inside the Patriots' red zone.

And yet, Talib said the secondary remained confident it was going to come through with the stop despite the sudden momentum swing.

“We practice it all the time,” he said. “We practice every situation. Bill [does] a good job putting us in every situation, so we’ve been in it in practice before, we did it in practice before, so we felt we could win the game.”

In the end, Talib and his secondary got the last laugh, as three plays later, White failed to come down with the ball in the end zone, Talib draped over him in coverage.

“The refs let us play,” he said of the win. “They did some pushing, we did some pulling, man. Came out with the victory.”

The Patriots head home 4-0 with a road trip to Cincinnati looming. That means another stiff test in the form of receiver A.J. Green.

When the team turns the page to the Bengals, rest assured it will be relying on Talib to help slow down Green next Sunday afternoon.

ATLANTA -- At an initial glance, a look at New England Patriots players whose performance was "up" against the Atlanta Falcons, and those who were at the opposite end of the spectrum:

Up
Offensive line/tight ends/fullback -- Opened up big holes up front for the power running game.

LeGarrette Blount/Stevan Ridley -- Running backs steamroll through undersized Falcons defense.

Kenbrell Thompkins/Julian Edelman -- Top two receivers came up big as things opened up in the second half.

Aqib Talib -- Cornerback is playing at a high level, as his fourth-quarter interception continues the Patriots' streak of games with at least one turnover to 31. Also comes up with the big fourth-down stop in the end zone to end the game.

Joe Vellano -- Rookie defensive tackle delivers a big third-quarter sack with a decisive victory over center Peter Konz.

Down
Steve Gregory -- Missed tackle on tight end Tony Gonzalez makes a 21-yard touchdown at the end of the second quarter easier than it should have been.

Dont'a Hightower -- Seemed like it was a struggle in coverage for the linebacker.

Zach Sudfeld -- Rookie tight end can't hang on to an onside kick attempt in the fourth quarter.

ATLANTA -- Thoughts on the New England Patriots' 30-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons:

What it means: The Patriots turned in an impressive effort through three and a half quarters and then almost collapsed. But they held on and improve to 4-0 for the first time since the 2007 season. The Falcons have been tough to beat in the Georgia Dome since 2008 (they were 34-7 entering the game), and they have been tough to beat after a loss over that span (22-3). The Falcons made a late charge, and the Patriots helped them get back into it with some sloppy play in critical situations, but the Patriots will obviously take the win.

Stock watch: Patriots defense -- rising. There were plenty of questions leading into the game about how the Patriots’ defense would fare against a top-level quarterback such as Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan after beating rookies EJ Manuel (Bills) and Geno Smith (Jets) and soon-to-be-benched five-year veteran Josh Freeman (Buccaneers). It did its part, holding down the Falcons’ explosive offense. A heavier mix of pressure was part of the plan as Ryan had his rhythm disrupted at times. Cornerback Aqib Talib came up with the big pass breakup on fourth down in the end zone to end the game.

Wilfork’s injury looms large: Starting defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, a five-time Pro Bowler, left the game on the opening drive and didn’t return. He hobbled off to the sideline and then was carted to the locker room. The Patriots announced that he had an ankle injury and, at the start of the second half, Wilfork was spotted in street clothes with his right foot in a boot in the tunnel. The Patriots have been thin at defensive tackle since training camp began. After Wilfork, they have veteran Tommy Kelly and rookies Joe Vellano (undrafted) and Chris Jones (a sixth-round draft pick of the Texans who was claimed on waivers on Sept. 11). Jones was making his debut on Sunday night. Vellano had his first career sack in the third quarter.

Dobson leaves with injury: In addition to Wilfork, rookie receiver Aaron Dobson left the game with a neck injury in the third quarter and did not return. With Dobson not returning, and with Danny Amendola (groin) and special teams captain/emergency receiving option Matthew Slater (wrist) inactive, the Patriots’ depth at receiver was down to three players -- rookie Kenbrell Thompkins, five-year veteran Julian Edelman and rookie Josh Boyce.

Brady’s stats of note: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady extended his streak of games with at least one touchdown pass to 52, which is two shy of tying Drew Brees' record. But in a first half in which the Patriots turned to the power running game, Brady attempted just nine passes. Can’t think of too many times that has happened.

What’s next: The Patriots visit the Cincinnati Bengals (2-2) on Oct. 6.

ATLANTA -- Entering the final quarter of play, the New England Patriots lead the Atlanta Falcons 13-10. Passing along quick-hit notes and observations from the third quarter:

1. Bolden returns. After leaving the game in the first half with a knee injury, running back Brandon Bolden returned to open the second half. Bolden was unable to play in each of the team's first two games due to a right knee issue. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork, meanwhile, was ruled out of the rest of the game due to a right ankle issue.

2. Edelman triggers incentive clause. In catching his third pass of the night, wide receiver Julian Edelman made himself a nice chunk of change, as he triggered an incentive clause in his contract that entitles him to $30,000 for 30 catches during the season. The next benchmark: 40 catches and an escalation of that bonus to $70,000.

3. Dobson banged up. At the conclusion of an extended drive that resulted in a chip shot field goal, Patriots receiver Aaron Dobson went down to the ground and clutched his right shoulder area after taking a crunching hit in the end zone. Dobson, who was the intended target of the throw on the play, was taken off the field with help from the medical staff. He later left the sideline and headed back to the locker room.

4. Vellano registers first sack. Getting extended playtime in Wilfork's absence, undrafted rookie Joe Vellano came through with his first career sack and the first sack for the Patriots defense on the evening. The sack pushed Atlanta into a 2nd-and-23 situation, putting the initial halt on what had been a productive drive.

5. Penalty box. The following Patriots were flagged for penalties during the third quarter: guard Logan Mankins (holding), team offense (illegal shift; declined) and quarterback Tom Brady (delay of game).

ATLANTA -- Some halftime thoughts with the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons tied at 10:

Power running: This has been attitude football for the Patriots as they ran it 10 straight times on their touchdown drive. The Patriots are a bigger team than the Falcons and it seems as if they made a conscious decision to play power football against an undersized defense. The Patriots have been running well out of almost every package, including their three-receiver grouping, which the Falcons matched with a nickel.

Limited-possession game: This has been a limited-possession type of game, sort of like how some of the old Tom Brady/Peyton Manning duels went down. This means margin for error is thin and every possession counts. The Patriots and Falcons each had four series in the first half, with the Patriots' final possession coming after the Falcons scored a touchdown with 38 seconds left in the second quarter (they kneeled on the ball).

Defense hanging tough: After the Falcons’ offense surged on its opening drive, only to be held to a field goal, this conclusion can be drawn: The Patriots’ defense, mixing its looks, has mostly risen to the challenge against the best quarterback (Matt Ryan) the unit has faced this season. Linebacker coverage remains an issue and safety Steve Gregory's breakdown contributed to Tony Gonzalez's 21-yard touchdown with 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter, but overall, this is a half the defense will probably mostly be happy with. Ryan has to be kicking himself for missing a fourth-down throw to open receiver Roddy White, so while the Patriots have stiffened in critical situations, some of the Falcons’ red-zone struggles (a big issue for them entering the game) were of their own doing.

Still no Wilfork: Defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, who was carted off in the first quarter, has not returned to action. The Patriots are rotating the remaining three players on the depth chart -- veteran Tommy Kelly and rookies Joe Vellano and Chris Jones.

Patriots presence felt in crowd: It’s definitely a majority of Falcons fans in the Georgia Dome tonight, but there’s a noticeable Patriots presence as well. That came to the forefront when the Falcons were stopped on fourth down. Plenty of cheers heard.

Setting up the second half: The Patriots get the ball to open the second half.