Playoff-bound, at last
Gilmore excited to get going
FOXBORO — Cornerback Stephon Gilmore came to the Patriots because he wanted to be a prime-time player in the postseason.
Gilmore will realize his paramount ambition when the Pats host the Tennessee Titans in a divisional round game tomorrow night.
“You grow up watching playoff games and you always dream about playing in these games, and it is going to be a fun game to play in,” Gilmore said after yesterday’s practice.
Gilmore spent the last five seasons in Buffalo as the Bills primary cover corner but his only postseason appearance was the 2016 Pro Bowl. The Patriots won five straight AFC East titles, advanced to the conference final each time and won two Super Bowls during Gilmore’s tenure in Buffalo.
Gilmore feels alive with the anticipation of his first playoff game.
“I’m excited but like I said we still have to go out there and play hard and beat a good football team,” he said. “You want to do everything you can to help the team win and go out and play hard and leave it all out on the field.”
Gilmore was the Bills first-round pick (10th overall) out of South Carolina in 2012 and signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Patriots last March 10. In his first five games that included home losses to Kansas City and Carolina, he appeared lost and out of sorts. He then was inactive for three straight games due to a concussion and ankle injury.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Gilmore began performing up to expectations following his return against the Broncos on Nov. 12. He finished the season with 47 solo tackles, three assisted tackles, two picks and nine pass defenses.
“We get coached pretty hard and that is pretty normal for me,” said Gilmore. “I’m just trying to work on my game and get better and whatever the coaches call I’ll execute. In the NFL you never feel favored because anybody can beat anybody so you have to go out there and prove yourself every game. You have to go out there and play hard to get a win.”
The Titans present some difficult scenarios for Gilmore and the Pats’ secondary. Marcus Mariota is one of the NFL’s best dual threat quarterbacks who can beat a defense with the run or the pass on any down.
“He is very athletic and fast and can throw the ball pretty good,” said Gilmore. “He’s a great quarterback and he has a lot of great talent around him.”
Titans wide receivers Eric Decker and Rishard Matthews combined for 107 receptions for 1,358 yards and five touchdowns this season. Rookie Corey Davis, the fifth overall pick last year, had 34 catches for 375 yards in 11 games.
“They are tough guys that run good routes,” said Gilmore. “Mariota is a good quarterback and they are tough guys. They fight for the ball and you have to compete on every play against them.”