NFL analyst breaks down Christian Gonzalez’s role in stopping Josh Allen with the game on the line
"Gonzalez has got his hands on him, he's in perfect position between the man and the ball, and he makes sure that Coleman is out of bounds."
The Patriots are 2-0 since Christian Gonzalez returned from his hamstring injury, and his performance against the Bills in prime time on Sunday night showed just how important he is to the defense.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger posted a one-minute breakdown of how Gonzalez helped keep reigning league MVP Josh Allen from “doing Josh Allen things.”
“This Patriots defense has climbed into the top-10, and they’re getting better,” Baldinger said. “One of the reasons why is Christian Gonzalez is back at right corner. He’s just a difference-maker.”
Baldinger analyzed two plays from the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win. He pointed to Gonzalez’s coverage of Keon Coleman on a deep pass attempt with 2:43 to go in the game.
“You watch this play right here, and this is the second-to-last play of Buffalo’s game, and he’s just got the receiver plastered right here,” Baldinger said, as the clip of Gonzalez running step-for-step with Coleman down the sideline played.
The play broke down, and Allen scrambled out of the pocket to buy some time for a downfield shot. Gonzalez stayed in front of Coleman. Coleman caught the ball, but his feet were not in position to stay in-bounds, so the pass was ruled incomplete.
“Christian Gonzalez has got his hands on him, he’s in a perfect position between the man and the ball, and he makes sure that Coleman is out of bounds.”
Allen scrambled again on the next play, with his eyes up looking downfield. The Bills would have needed a touchdown to take the lead. Instead, Gonzalez got another stop that forced Buffalo to settle for a field goal.
“He’s scrambling, he’s running, and he’s trying to find [Khalil] Shakir right here,” Baldinger said. “He’s going to throw a floater there, and here comes Gonzalez to break it up.”
Gonzalez explained what he saw on the play during a press conference on Tuesday.
“It was just a plaster drill, just Josh scrambling, extending plays,” Gonzalez said. “You’ve got to find the open receiver. Once you’re in zone and start to scramble, it turns to man, so you’ve got to find a man and get to him. Saw Shakir was open, so I just ran to him and got the [pass break-up].”
Those kinds of plays can be valuable at the end of games, when the team is trying to close out a tough opponent.
“They’re just a better defense, Baldinger said. “Jaylinn Hawkins has played great. [Craig Woodson] has been good. [Khyiris] Tonga. Joshua Farmer, the rookie, has been good, but [Gonzalez] makes the defense better.”
Silencing the Buffalo crowd was fun, Gonzalez said.
“It was a rowdy place,” he explained. “The fans were into it, so that made it more fun of a game. It was a great environment … to get that win and the crowd is just quiet, there’s no better feeling than that.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com