FOXBOROUGH -- It's becoming so consistent, it no longer is a surprise when it happens.
Once again, cornerback Stephon Gilmore shut down an opponents No. 1 receiver, as this time it was Amari Cooper in the Patriots' 13-9 win over the Cowboys Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
Cooper recorded zero catches on two targets. Gilmore finished with two passes defensed and an interception, so he finished the game with more catches than Cooper.
After the game, Gilmore was asked if he was confident heading in that he would be able to shut down the Cowboys' best receiver and he simply replied, "Yeah."
"I believe in myself," he said. "I put the work in every day, and I know what I can do."
Cooper joins a long list of No. 1 receivers Gilmore has been on this year and taken out of games. Others include: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham Jr., Golden Tate, Robby Anderson and Terry McLaurin.
Safety Duron Harmon had high praise for his teammate, calling him the best cornerback in the league.
"Steph is the best corner in the league," he said. "He's consistently proven that week after week. We've put him on whoever, and he goes out there and plays well. We knew he was going to play well today, and he's the reason why we won the game."
Even Bill Belichick had plenty of good things to say.
"This was another great effort by Steph," he said. "You know, he just works and prepares so hard for his matchups every week, and takes those as such a personal challenge. Obviously, this is a very good group of receivers, and a great quarterback and a great offensive line. But yeah, Steph's as professional as they come. He knows the opponents inside-out, and his matchups, and the overall scheme and how to best play based on what our call is and what the situation is and so forth. He does a great job of that, so certainly a good day for him."
While Gilmore isn't leading the AFC in terms off cornerback voting for the Pro Bowl, there's little doubt he will be named to the team for a second straight year.
Over his last six games, Gilmore has allowed only 10 catches on 29 targets for 108 yards with three interceptions and seven passes defensed.
