Bedard: When it comes to bouncing back, Stephon Gilmore has it covered

FOXBOROUGH — We all know what we saw on Sunday against the Dolphins. Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the self-professed best corner in the game and contender for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was picked on by Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins to the tune of 119 yards and a 77.8 completion percentage with a bye on the line Sunday.

And that's bad news for the Titans heading into the wild-card game.

Wait ... what?

If his track record with the Patriots is any indication, expect Gilmore to be in shutdown mode on Saturday night.

Seven times previously, Gilmore allowed at least 47 yards receiving — that's not even bad; it's all relative — and in six of the seven games, Gilmore allowed a catch percentage of better than 50 percent.

And seven times, in the next game, Gilmore pitched the equivalent of a shutout: he always allowed fewer yards. On average, Gilmore allowed a catch rate of 67.9 and 68.8 yards in his "bad game." The next time out, Gilmore allowed 43.7 percent and 28.1 yards.



"You know, I don’t think about it," Gilmore said Thursday. "It’s a new week and I know the things I have to do in order for us to win. I’ll take full responsibility for everything that I do and I know what I have to do to help my team, so I’m always hard on myself no matter what. Good or bad, I put it behind me and get ready for the next play or the next game."

Even better news for Patriots fans when it comes to Gilmore bouncing back against these Titans: last year, in the Patriots' 34-10 loss at Nashville, Corey Davis caught seven passes for 125 yards and a touchdown — most of it against Gilmore.

So not only does Gilmore have to atone for last week, but he knows Davis — who hasn't approached those numbers since — got the best of him last year.



Titans coach Mike Vrabel knows his team will have to be careful around Gilmore.

"I think that each and every week is different, and if we want to throw passes towards Gilmore that we’ll have to be very accurate and we’ll have to run great routes because if we don’t, the best thing that it’ll be will be incomplete, if it’s not intercepted," Vrabel said. "So, every week is different and the reason that great corners are great corners is they play with a lot of confidence each and every play and each and every week. We understand that it’ll be a great challenge if we want to try to throw the football against the Patriots."

Of course, this Titans passing offense is much different — and better — than last season (Marcus Mariota was 16 of 24 for 228 yards, two touchdowns and a 125.0 passer rating). Not only is quarterback Ryan Tannehill playing out of his mind, but the Titans only had one other receiver (tight end Jonnu Smith) catch more than two passes in that game.

Now they have rookie WR A.J. Brown (52 catches for 1,051 yards), Davis (43 for 601), Adam Humphries (37 for 374), Smith (35 for 439), Tajae Sharpe (25 for 329) and a host of others capable of making meaningful contributions in a variety of ways.

"Obviously, they’ve got a lot of guys that can beat you vertical, but you watch them – it’s a quick slant or a slim post and A.J. Brown catches it, now he breaks a tackle and now you’re trying to catch a guy that you’re not going to catch, or Derrick Henry gets an open field, or Corey Davis makes a play," said safety Devin McCourty. "They can still – like Tajae Sharpe ran a stutter and go against Jacksonville and got behind. They still have those vertical-nine routes. A.J. Brown ran one against Houston, 60-yarder. But a lot of the plays, even the reverse he had against New Orleans, breaks a tackle and now he’s gone. Jonnu Smith – the guy that people really don’t talk about a lot in that offense – he has a toss-play for 60 yards, he has a quick slant for like another 50 yards.

"A lot of it is going to come down to, obviously, you can’t let the ball behind. You can’t let your guys run by you. We’ve got to do a good job when they make catches of everyone getting to the ball and tackling because they’ve got a lot of big, strong, fast guys on that team, a lot of guys that don’t really look like they fit in the position they’re in. Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, guys that are huge, playing different positions and they’re really good at it."

After the experience of last season and the summer joint sessions, the Patriots know the challenge they are up against.

"They’re great receivers," said Gilmore. "They’re having a big year and [Ryan] Tannehill’s having a big year, so it’s going to be a dogfight. Prepare as much as we can, and I’m looking forward to the matchup and giving it all I got for my team.

"It’s a big challenge. They can do everything. They can run the ball, they can throw it. So, any time you can do that and be balanced, you’re going to be a good offense. So, it’s going to take all 11 guys, and trusting each other and playing for each other."

Gilmore having another one of his bounce-back games wouldn't hurt either.