FOXBORO — There will be matchups to watch all over the football field on Sunday when the New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Divisional Round game at Gillette Stadium.
One specifically could be the best of all — Patriots All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore against Chargers receiver Keenan Allen.
Allen will be the fifth 1,000-yard receiver that Gilmore has faced this year. Allen enters with 1,233 yards on 101 receptions and six touchdowns in 17 games. Allen had four receptions on six targets for 37 yards in the Chargers’ Wild-Card round win over the Ravens.
Gilmore has been arguably the best player on the Patriots this season. He finished second in the NFL with 20 pass breakups and had two interceptions. Gilmore was ranked as Pro Football Focus’ top-ranked corner on the way to his second NFL Pro Bowl and first All-Pro First Team selection.
“He’s his own receiver,” Gilmore said when asked if he has seen anyone like Allen this year. “He’s very crafty, quick at the top of the route.”
Crafty?
“In his route running,” Gilmore explained. “It’s a little different. He’s a good receiver. He’s been making plays in this league for a long time.”
At 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, Gilmore has had the size advantage against many opposing receivers this season. It’s the reason he was able to win the physicality battle with Pittsburgh’s 5-foot-10, 180-pound Antonio Brown and 190-pound receivers like the New York Jets’ Robby Anderson and Minnesota’s Stefon Diggs.
The Chargers, however, have three big receivers. It will be a tough test for Gilmore and the rest of the secondary.
Allen measures in at 6-foot-2, 211 pounds while Chargers’ teammate Mike Williams is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and Tyrell Williams is 6-foot-4, 205 pounds.
While his overall season has been successful as any in the NFL, Gilmore has had mixed results against bigger receivers this season. When Gilmore went against 6-foot-3, 210-pound Corey Davis, the Tennessee Titans’ receiver torched the secondary for 125 yards and one touchdown on seven catches.
However, when Gilmore played 6-foot-1, 212-pound All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, he limited the Houston Texans’ receiver to his sixth-lowest output of the season with 78 yards on eight receptions. It was a similar story when Gilmore faced 6-foot-1, 215-pound Davante Adams as he held the Green Bay receiver to his lowest production of the season — six receptions for 40 yards.
“Play with good technique,” Gilmore said regarding the recipe to contrast physicality. “Just really focus on yourself, adjust during the game. Just have to play with good technique if they’re physical. Try to do what you’ve been doing all year.”
When the Patriots played Allen and the Chargers last season, Allen was limited to four receptions on five targets for 61 yardsM, but Gilmore did not play in that game. Mike Williams had one reception for seven yards during the same game, a 21-13 win for New England.
That means nothing to Gilmore.
“I don’t think there’s nothing you can take from last year,” he said. “New week, new opportunity. We got to play good to beat this team.
“They got great receivers, a good running game, a great quarterback. So it’s going to be a big challenge for us.”