The last time we saw Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots cornerback was being steamrolled by Jacksonville’s 315-pound left tackle Anton Harrison on Trevor Lawrence’s 15-yard kneel-down at the New England one-foot-line last Sunday.
Adding alarm to the ugliness of that play, Gonzalez, according to the team’s Wednesday injury report, was a non-participant with a shoulder issue, at the team’s first practice as New England prepares for Buffalo on Sunday.
While Gonzalez is to be commended for his courage on the play, attempting to take on a road-grader like Harrison in what at the time was a 28-6 blowout, his presence this Sunday is much more pivotal to New England turning its early-season doldrums around.
Great matchup potentially on tap
A potential D.J. Moore vs. Gonzalez showdown could be the difference on Sunday. It is what fans want to see. The ability of Gonzalez to take away the opponents’ top option is the main reason the Patriots opened the vault and rewarded the fourth-year corner with a four-year, $135 million contract extension.
Shadowing Josh Allen’s top option, who despite a shoulder injury of his own, has 11 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown in what is basically two games, with Gonzalez would allow New England defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr to attack Allen with his pass rush.
How do they get to him?
Head coach Mike Vrabel’s defensive refrain has not changed.
“We have to affect their quarterback,” Vrabel repeated on Wednesday.
New England chose not to turn Gonzalez loose on Sunday in Jacksonville. Instead of aggressively pressuring like New England did against the Steelers – with Gonzalez shrouding DK Metcalf – they sat back in zone and let Lawrence basically pick them apart.
Sunday, it’s “affect” Allen or be shredded, and that starts with Gonzalez going head to head with Moore.
The Bills, in need of a No. 1 receiver, traded for Moore with Chicago, surrendering a second-round draft pick and agreeing to pay off the remaining seasons on his four-year, $110 million deal. They understood the need.
Moore’s number will be called
He will be showcased on Sunday – unless Gonzalez is allowed to accept and live up to the challenge.
New England has to believe in Gonzalez and make its own breaks on defense.
“This is critical to go on the road, within the division. So, this is a great opportunity for us to be the answer, to understand that we choose our demeanor, we choose our attitude, we choose our response. That’s not up to anybody else,” Vrabel said.
