Patriots: 3 bold predictions for Week 1 battle with Dolphins

2. Stephon Gilmore Stymies DeVante Parker

Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore is ready for his rematch with WR DeVante Parker.

Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore was outstanding for nearly the entire 2019 season en route to rightfully claiming Defensive Player of the Year honors. The 29-year-old stud tallied 53 tackles, a league-leading six interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and a whopping 20 passes defensed. He also held opposing quarterbacks to a 48.9 completion percentage when they targeted him.

However, if there was one wide receiver who got the best of Gilmore last year, it was Dolphins star DeVante Parker, who lit him up in Week 17 to the tune of eight receptions for 137 yards, both of which were the most allowed by the Patriots to an opposing wideout.

The letdown by Gilmore was shocking considering how dominant he was against some of the league’s high-profile receivers. In a good sign for New England, the All-Pro DB recently acknowledge that he’s ready for his rematch with Parker.

In our eyes, Gilmore will completely neutralize the Louisville product. Since this is a bold predictions piece, let’s get crazy and say that Parker will finish with three receptions for 35 yards. For a player who posted 72 receptions for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns (all career-highs) last season, it doesn’t get more daring than that.