Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper did not log a catch on Sunday, which could lead those who weren't paying attention to believe that he did not even play during his team's loss to the New England Patriots.
But he certainly played.
The problem is, he was going up against arguably the best cover cornerback in the NFL in Stephon Gilmore.
Due to Gilmore's blanket coverage, the Cowboys were only able to target Cooper twice during the 13-9 defeat, neither of which resulted in a reception.
Afterward, Gilmore said he had a good time locking down Dallas' best receiver:
“It was fun,” the stoic Gilmore said afterward, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “I was just trying to get my hands on him every snap.”
I guess Gilmore is a First-Team All-Pro for a reason.
What's amazing is that Gilmore's tenure with the Patriots actually got off to a rough start in 2017, as he played in just 13 games and put forth a rather disappointing effort in what was his first season with the club after signing a massive five-year contract that preceding offseason.
But the 29-year-old bounced back in a big way last year, playing in every game and earning a Pro Bowl appearance in addition to his First-Team All-Pro selection.
Now, he is a driving force on what may very well be the best defense in the league, or at least the best in the AFC.
New England improved to an AFC-best 10-1 with its win over Cooper and the Cowboys and will take on the Houston Texans next weekend.
Follow Us
Subscribe