New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots have won each of their past two games against the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills to push their record to 3-2 on the season. A key difference for the Pats in each of these wins has been the presence of superstar cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
After earning a spot on the All-Pro Second Team last season, Gonzalez missed the first three games of the year due to a hamstring injury. During his absence, the Patriots struggled to hold up against the pass, as they were forced to play more zone coverage without him.
Since returning, Gonzalez has essentially locked up one side of the field, forcing opposing quarterbacks to target Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones more frequently. The problem for them is that both guys have held up well in coverage themselves.
Gonzalez’s play took center stage in New England’s win over Buffalo on Sunday Night Football, and it caught the attention of one of the team’s former lockdown cornerbacks. That player would be Stephon Gilmore, as Gonzalez revealed the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year reached out to him after the Pats’ big win.
“He hit me up,” Gonzalez said of Gilmore on “Patriots Unfiltered.” “It’s awesome to hear from him. Somebody that’s done it at the highest level, that’s won Super Bowls, multiple awards.”
Gilmore spent four seasons with the Patriots from 2017 to 2020, and during that time, he turned himself into the top cornerback in the league. Gilmore earned three Pro Bowl selections, two All-Pro First Team honors, and the aforementioned DPOY Award while with New England.
In the process, Gilmore mapped out the blueprint for success that Gonzalez is looking to follow during his time with the team. While Gonzalez is questionable for the team’s upcoming Week 6 clash with the New Orleans Saints, he will be looking to help the Patriots earn their third straight victory should he find his way onto the field for this one.
