Metcalf prevails in duel with Gilmore

Stephon Gilmore wasn’t about to say anything nice about D.K. Metcalf or anyone else who caught passes for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night.

The battle between the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Seattle’s second-year wide receiver was intriguing going into the game and was intense from start to finish in New England’s 35-30 loss.

Metcalf finished with four catches on six targets for 92 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown in the second [...]

Stephon Gilmore wasn’t about to say anything nice about D.K. Metcalf or anyone else who caught passes for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night.

The battle between the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Seattle’s second-year wide receiver was intriguing going into the game and was intense from start to finish in New England’s 35-30 loss.

Metcalf finished with four catches on six targets for 92 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown in the second quarter with Gilmore draped all over him.

With 8:10 left in the third quarter, the two got into a good old-fashioned scuffle on the Seattle sideline with Gilmore being surrounded by seemingly everyone in a Seahawks’ uniform.

"I felt like he was blocking after the whistle sometimes, but it’s just two players competing. Sometimes that’s what it takes in between the lines," Gilmore said. "You’re not going to back down; you’re going to keep competing and do whatever you can to win each snap."

Gilmore was involved in a similar incident last year with Sammy Watkins of the Kansas City Chiefs. His talking point about that battle was competing and it didn’t change this time when he was asked about Metcalf a second time in his postgame press conference.

"You’re not going to back down," Gilmore said. "You’re going to keep competing and do whatever you can to win each snap."

On Sunday, Gilmore and Metcalf were battling from the start. Gilmore usually finds himself matched up against larger receivers. But Metcalf is a different type of large because he’s also got speed. Gilmore was giving up three inches and almost 30 pounds, but maintained close coverage.

Except on one play.

On the second-quarter touchdown, Metcalf ran a terrific route and used his speed to blow past Gilmore. Russell Wilson unleashed a rainbow of a pass from his own 37 and it dropped right into Metcalf’s arms at the 11-yard line.

Gilmore caught up to Metcalf by the time the ball arrived, but Metcalf never flinched as the ball approached, keeping his hands low until it was actually there. Gilmore did his best to rip it loose, but Metcalf shook him off, going the final 11 yards for the score that tied the game at 14 after the kick with 6:57 left in the half.

"It happens. I think I was in good position. Russell Wilson threw a good ball," said Gilmore, who was covering Metcalf for three of his four grabs. "You’ve got to keep fighting. I kept my leverage. He threw a good ball. I just have to keep fighting to the ground."

Gilmore was asked two other questions about Seattle’s wide receivers and both times, he credited Wilson, who finished the night with 288 yards passing and five touchdowns.

"He bought a lot of time. He’s probably one of the best quarterbacks in the league," Gilmore said. "He proved it tonight. He made some tough throws and we just have got to do better."

Better was the key word. While the Patriots defense opened the game with a stop — Devin McCourty’s pick-6 — and ended one with a stop that gave the offense a chance to win the game at the end, what happened in the middle wasn’t ideal, especially with the goals the team has in mind.

"We were coming in trying to get a win but we didn’t. We have to watch the film and get better," Gilmore said. "I think we left some plays out there. That’s what it takes. It’s the National Football League. We have to go back and practice and compete and get better and that’s what it’s going to take for us to turn it around.

erueb@providencejournal.com

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