Stephon Gilmore holds Stefon Diggs to under 50 yards
It was enormously encouraging to see Stephon Gilmore on the field for 100 percent of defensive snaps in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. This is another major milestone in his recovery from a torn quad and the first time it’s occurred since the All-Pro cornerback joined the Carolina Panthers.
Gilmore’s talent is undeniable. Despite advancing in age, the former South Carolina star is still one of the best man coverage guys in the business and the Panthers need him firing on all cylinders this weekend during his expected matchup against Stefon Diggs.
This is a big challenge for Gilmore, no matter how good the player is. Diggs has emerged as an elite route-runner with the ball skills to match, which is a threat Carolina has to take incredibly seriously in pursuit of victory.
It’s nothing Gilmore hasn’t seen before. And in fairness to the ex-NFL Defensive Player of the Year, he’s done a terrific job on outstanding playmakers such as Kyle Pitts during his time in Carolina so far.
If the Panthers are to stand any hope of shocking the NFL world, then Gilmore has to completely cancel out Diggs’ threat and make quarterback Josh Allen look elsewhere. It would be a huge surprise if the two players weren’t matched up constantly, so who comes out on top is going to have a significant say on proceedings.
Keeping Diggs under 50 receiving yards – something that’s happened just twice this season – is a target for Gilmore and if he achieves it, then the better Carolina’s aspirations will be.