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FOXBORO - Like just about every other member of the Patriots' defensive unit, Vince Wilfork is just itching to get back onto the field.

"Our goal is to get back on track as a team, and as a defense," Wilfork said. "If we do that, and do our job, everything will be OK. We have to make adjustments where we need adjustments on the sidelines and in the locker room at halftime."

It's understandable that he would feel that way. The last time the Patriots played a game, the defense coughed up a hairball, losing 38-13 to the Miami Dolphins.

"Next up" is Sunday at Candlestick Park against the surprising San Francisco 49ers (4:15 p.m.; Ch. 4, 12), a game that may have seemed destined for the Patriots' back pocket at the start of the season. Now, with Bay Area-native Tom Brady out for the season and the defense having struggled mightily in its last outing before the bye week, all of a sudden it isn't looking at all like a certain New England victory.

All the more reason, Wilfork said, to get back on the field and to exorcise the demons that undermined them against Miami. "Once again, it all boils down to trusting one another out there on the field, not taking everything in your hands because that's not the way to go," the burly nose tackle said. "If you get caught up doing that, it hurts us."

One of the first things the Patriots must do in this game, Wilfork said, is to pay attention to the Niners' leading rusher, Frank Gore (76 carries, 369 yards, three touchdowns). Since he joined the team in 2005, San Francisco is 10-3 in games in which Gore has gained 100 yards or more.

"As a defensive line, you always want to stop the run," Wilfork said. "You try to get them in a long-yardage situation and you can get after the passer. But if we don't stop the run, I think we're going to have a long day. And I think everyone understands that."

Stopping the run has not been a Patriot strength this year. In three games they've surrendered 422 yards, an average of 140.7 yards per game.

Former Patriots' practice-squadder J.T. O'Sullivan has taken over at quarterback for the Niners and has been on an upward curve, posting a 100-plus passer rating in two of his last three games. The speed bump, however, was a six-sack effort by the New Orleans Saints in their 31-17 victory at the Superdome last week.

Wilfork said the Patriots can't afford to deviate from their normal approach to the game just because O'Sullivan, a sixth-year veteran, has very little experience as a starter.

"You can't single out anyone like that," Wilfork said. "I think he's running that ship pretty well. He can make some plays with his feet, his legs and his arm. It's going to be a real key for us how we play this guy. I don't think that just because he's such a young quarterback, we'll be doing anything different than we would if we were facing a 15-year vet. The game plan is the game plan, whatever it may be."

Still, he added, the Saints' success at rushing O'Sullivan may have opened a few eyes in Foxboro. Pumping up the pass rush may not be a bad idea, as the Patriots have been able to post only six sacks in three games.

"There's opportunities out there, and we're going to try to," Wilfork said of trying to get pressure on O'Sullivan. "We have to make them count. They're in sync, they're looking explosive offensively and they're putting up a lot of points.

"We have to do a really good job of just taking care of what we have to take care of," he said. "And when those opportunities present themselves, we have to take advantage of them." The Niners have shown that they aren't afraid to go for the big gains when their backs are against the well, Wilfork added.

"They have plays for that third-and-15, third-and-20, we've seen it on film," he said. "They can pick those up. They don't worry about it. Most offenses, when they get in situations like that, you try to forget it and manage it so you can get a punt off. But third-and-15, they have plays in their playbook where they're confident and they can say, 'hey, let's pick it up.'

"It's going to take everybody out there this week," he said.

MARK FARINELLA may be reached at 508-236-0315 or via e-mail at mfarinel@thesunchronicle.com. Read Farinella's blog, "Blogging Fearlessly," at thesunchronicle.com/farinella.