He knows what it takes to be a shutdown cornerback, and 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore believes the New England Patriots have another one. A talented cover man who was a hero of the team’s 23-20 upset win over the Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 5.
Gilmore praise Christian Gonzalez late in the game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, October 5. The 35-year-old who spent four seasons in New England and helped the 2018 Patriots win a Super Bowl, posted, “christian gonzalez cold blooded.
The clear reference to Gonzalez having lockdown-type skills was merited after the third-year pro clamped onto Bills‘ wide receivers all night. Gonzalez also made a decisive play to limit Buffalo to a late field goal and give Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense the opportunity to win the game, a chance they seized thanks to rookie Andres Borregales kicking a 52-yarder with mere seconds on the clock.
In the process, Gonzalez delivered a much-needed return to form after a hamstring injury cost him the first three games of this season.
Christian Gonzalez Can Be Another Stephon Gilmore
When the Pats used a first-round pick to take Gonzalez in the 2023 NFL draft, they were hoping for another Gilmore. A skilled corner able to play on an island and hold up in man coverage, particularly during clutch moments.
Gonzalez ticked both boxes against the Bills. He posted “elite” numbers from his coverage matchups, according to Sleeper’s Carlos A. Lopez.
Numbers like those aren’t necessarily anything new for Gonzalez. He’s generally been as advertised when he’s healthy, although staying that way has been a problem.
The 23-year-old lost most of his rookie season to a torn Labrum and has also dealt with a concussion and hamstring problems. Fortunately, Gonzalez felt more like his All-Pro self when he made it back onto the field against the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, a feeling he tapped into at a key moment in Buffalo.
It occurred when Gonzalez stuck to Khalil Shakir to break up a pass and force the Bills to take three points instead of more, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
This was the kind of critical contribution the Patriots want from the premier playmaker on their defense. Gonzalez is earning that status, but he wasn’t alone during a tough and smart overall defensive performance against the Bills.
Patriots Defense Met the Occasion
A big game demanded a big performance from a unit that hasn’t played to its talent level too often this season, but New England’s defense delivered when it mattered against an AFC East rival.
Gonzalez was a big part of the success, but the Pats also got adhesive coverage from fellow corner Marcus Jones. The latter overcame a significant height disadvantage against Bills‘ wideout Keon Coleman to force another decisive pass breakup, highlighted by FanSided’s Justin Trombino.
It was just one worthy play from Jones, who also snatched an interception off reigning league MVP Josh Allen. Buffalo’s star QB1 was also sacked once and hit five times by a relentless pass rush that stayed disruptive all night.
This is what a new-look defense was supposed to look like after the Patriots invested major dollars in free agency. High-priced newcomers, edge-rusher Harold Landry III, defensive tackle Milton Williams and cornerback Carlton Davis III, are all helping to change things, but a special athlete like Jones and marquee incumbent Gonzalez are just as important.
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