CenturyLink Field hosted a heavyweight fight sunday night: Stephon Gilmore against D. K. Metcalf.
Gilmore, the corner star of the New England Patriots and current NFL defensive player, faced Metcalf in Sunday’s 35-30 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and his battles ended when the whistle blew.
The generally soft Gilmore collided with Metcalf, Seattle’s physical specimen of an open receiver, after several pieces, one of which triggered a brief scrum in the Seahawks bandline, which Metcalf gave the impression of grabbing Gilmore’s face mask like a mass of teammates. tried to separate the two.
Gilmore asked after the game about his common altercations with the 6-foot-4, 229-pound Metcalf.
“Only two players competing,” said Gilmore, who has a rating of 6-1, 202. “I felt like I was crashing after the whistle. I’m just looking to stay calm. Play very physically between the lines, and that’s what happens. “
Metcalf received gilmore’s best on Sunday’s longest play: a 54-yard bomb from Quarterback Russell Wilson who tied the score at 14-14 in the middle of the fourth.
Gilmore had a smart game policy: Metcalf never gained more than 2 meters of separation at any point in his career, according to the NFL’s next-generation statistics, but he may not be spared the long touchdown.
“Honestly, there’s a lot of extra nonsense with all the stuff after the whistle,” said the deep Patriots, Devin McCourty, after the game. “(Metcalf) is a smart player. Steph is evidently one of the most productive players in this league. (Es) fair competition. A deep ball in which Steph has a smart policy and (Metcalf) comes in with a very clever catch, and other than that, those guys were just competing.
Gilmore gave up a landing pass last season.
Metcalf also beat Gilmore by a 12-yard gain two plays before landing and a 19-yard drive in the last quarter that helped prepare the score in Seattle.
“The fact that Gilmore is going to have to stay with him all week, we knew it was going to be a tough game for Gilmore,” Seahawks catcher David Moore told reporters. You’re not going to stop a guy like that from starting to roll. “
Metcalf finished with four receptions in six goals for 92 yards, almost to the 4-95-1 line he achieved in last week’s win over the Atlanta Falcons. The second-round pick in the 2019 draft has spent 80 yards in four of his last five games (including the playoffs) and has four touchdowns in that span.
“I think DK was amazing,” said Wilson, who shattered the Patriots’ defense with five landing passes to five other receivers. “. . . I think from the moment DK came here, he’s been passionate about the game, he’s been tough as nails, targeting the aggressor and ownership of his area as a player.
“Besides, I also think in the passing game, he needs the opportunity. He needs to be great. He needs to be on aggregate in what he does.
Miniature photo Joe Nicholson / USA TODAY Sports Images