Week 13 in the NFL will feature one of the best cornerback-receiver matchups that the league has to offer.
Stephon Gilmore and the New England Patriots will travel to Houston on Sunday night to square off with the Texans and Deandre Hopkins. After shutting out Amari Cooper in Week 12, Gilmore solidified his spot as the NFL’s best cornerback. Hopkins is coming off of a two-touchdown performance against the Indianapolis Colts and he was among the league’s best receivers last season.
In 11 games this season, Hopkins has amassed 81 receptions, 839 yards and six touchdowns. Gilmore has recorded four interceptions, while allowing a 40.6 percent passer rating and zero touchdowns. Gilmore is a 6-foot-1, 202 pound cornerback that isn’t threatened by Hopkins’ 6-foot-1, 212 pound frame.
Since joining the Patriots in 2017, Gilmore has went toe-to-toe with Hopkins twice — allowing six completions for 85 yards and no touchdowns.
Since Stephon Gilmore joined the Patriots in 2017, here's how he has performed in two games against DeAndre Hopkins:
6 completions
9 targets
85 yards
0 TDs
1 interception
1 pass breakup
1 pass interference penalty
57.4 passer rating— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) November 25, 2019
With a Bill Belichick gameplan and one of the league’s most feared defenses, it could be a long night for Hopkins. The Patriots have a league-high 20 interceptions this season and they’re second in passing yards allowed per game with 158. Fortunately for Houston, they have a reliable quarterback in Deshaun Watson who is in the NFL’s lower tier of interceptions thrown with seven.
New England vs. Houston is a huge AFC matchup, but the clash within the game will provide entertainment the entire night.
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