A surprise for Wise? Patriots DE’s TD was his first - and not just in the NFL

Some players have scored many times they can’t remember their first touchdown. It might have happened in Pop Warner, playing middle school football or even when they finally hit the high school ranks.

Deatrich Wise Jr. will always remember his.

It happened Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

The New England Patriots’ defensive end was in on the holy trinity of defensive lineman plays in Sunday’s 36-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. In the fourth [...]

Some players have scored many times they can’t remember their first touchdown. It might have happened in Pop Warner, playing middle school football or even when they finally hit the high school ranks.

Deatrich Wise Jr. will always remember his.

It happened Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

The New England Patriots’ defensive end was in on the holy trinity of defensive lineman plays in Sunday’s 36-20 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. In the fourth quarter, Wise and teammate Shilique Calhoun converged on Derek Carr and Wise was credited with a half sack, forced fumble and – after a replay review – his first touchdown.

And we’re not talking his first NFL touchdown either.

"Two years ago on Madden," said Wise when asked when the last time he scored in a game was. "This is my first ever touchdown. Yeah, in any level of game."

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As a defensive end, Wise has been more of a touchdown-preventer than scorer going back to his days at Hebron High School in Carollton Texas, then at Arkansas and now with the Patriots.

Sunday, Wise and the defense were putting up quite the effort in the second half as New England were slowly separated from the Raiders after being up 13-10 at halftime.

Rex Burkhead had just scored his third TD of the game – must be nice – and the special teams unit pinned the Raiders at the 6-yard line following a penalty on the kickoff.

Carr dropped back and tried to step into the pocket with no room to throw and less room to escape. Wise got him low and Calhoun hit him high and, in live action, sacking Carr in the end zone for a safety.

But Wise knew it was more. He got off the ground, ball in hand, and immediately started celebrating with teammates. He started showing the officials the ball, trying to get the call.

"Someone said they review all safeties or points that are scored," Wise said in an interview on the Jim Rome Show Tuesday. "I was like once they review it, they’ll know it’s a touchdown, not a safety."

The play was reviewed and changed to a touchdown, giving Wise his first and setting off a frenzied celebration on the sideline.

"That was the best part," Wise said on Rome. "We were just excited. It was a joyful moment, definitely one we want to remember forever."

The team celebration was great for what Wise said was a total team play. For people watching, it looked like a simple strip-sack, but there was so much more going on that people may not have noticed.

"Not only did I rush a guy back, but Shilique coming off the edge got back to the inside, Chase [Winovich] and Adam [Butler] as well pushing their guys back so he had an opportunity to step up," Wise said on Rome. "And the DBs being able to shut down the coverage, leaving [Carr] nowhere, leaving him to step up into the attack of Shilique and I.

It was a pretty cool experience. We did such that, bull rushed the line, sacked Derek Carr and it was just great celebrating with the teammates."

"Just seeing those guys, and especially [Deatrich] and Shilique and those guys and the hard work that they put in week to week," New England defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington said. "To see on Sunday them reap their rewards, all the seeds that they sowed throughout the offseason training camp, practice, it come to light on Sunday which is great of them and I’m happy for them and hope it continues down the line."

After the game, Wise took calls from friends and family offering congratulations. He kept the ball and plans to display it prominently at his home. It’s a keepsake of a moment he’ll never forget.

"Definitely better than any touchdown I’ve ever scored in life, whether it was backyard or in Madden," Wise said. "And [Sunday] night, I spent my time relaxing with the wife, answering calls from my family, brothers, Mom, Dad, and we just kind of just reminisced over that play and talked about that. The whole thing was great."

erueb@providencejournal.com

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