How Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez Assessed Performance Vs. DK Metcalf

FOXBORO, Mass. — New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez had his hands full against Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf much like he did in his star-studded matchup one week prior.

Metcalf played a key factor in Seattle’s 23-20 overtime victory at Gillette Stadium on Sunday as he finished with 10 catches for 129 yards and one touchdown. And while Gonzalez shadowed Metcalf for much of the contest — Metcalf said “the whole game” — the second-year corner still held his own.

Metcalf was targeted seven times against Gonzalez and recorded three receptions for 24 yards, according to Next Gen Stats. That output clearly does not include Metcalf’s 56-yard touchdown in the first quarter, which Gonzalez referred to as a “miscommunication” with safety Kyle Dugger. Dugger took blame for the botched coverage.

“He’s a great receiver,” Gonzalez said after the loss. “He’s one of the league’s best. I feel like I did alright, I’m not going to say I had a perfect game. It’s never a perfect game. He made plays, I made plays. But the main thing is we ain’t win so besides that it don’t matter.”

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Metcalf routinely got open on short routes with his physicality and used his speed to make plays with the ball in his hands. He gained 63 yards after the catch Sunday, per Next Gen Stats.

“He got all the tools. He’s fast, real fast, physical, smart. He studies a lot of film,” Gonzalez said of Metcalf. “You can see how he plays and he’s been in the league so he’s done it. He’s done it against multiple different corners and that’s what he does.”

Metcalf felt good about the film he put against Gonzalez.

“It was very good,” Metcalf said. “Just like last week, going against one corner the whole game. You get to accumulate reps and get to figure out little nuances in the one-on-one matchup against him.

“I think he’s going to be a really good corner in this league for years to come. Big, strong, physical corner with speed, can track the ball downfield. So it was a good matchup and it was a fun game.”

Gonzalez recently handcuffed Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in New England’s regular-season opener. Unfortunately for the second-year corner, things don’t get much easier with New York Jets wideout Garrett Wilson on Thursday night.