This is a big opportunity for Christian Gonzalez

aluminum seats · Feb 4, 2026

If my quick math here is right, Jaxon Smith-Njigba accounted for 44.3% of Seattle's receiving yards this season. Holy cow. Gotta be top 5 in history on that basis, right?

If Gonzalez can handle him on his own, watch out.

NFL Mystique · Feb 4, 2026

I don't think he can handle JSN one on one. Double team him.

DC Patriots · Feb 4, 2026

JSN is very good. Pats focus after stopping the run will be to stop JSN. I don’t think Gonzo 1 v 1 to erase him is the whole plan

TheRainMaker · Feb 4, 2026

JSN is like Michael Thomas hoarding all the targets. If Gonzalez can wipe him out, their drives will stall assuming the Pats stop the run. This was what happened to the Saints between 2017-2019.

Patsfan1645 · Feb 4, 2026

I think you treat JSN like how Bill treated Hill when he was with the Chiefs. You put Davis on JSN and give him help all night and you let Gonzalez erase Kupp.

LightSkinSmurf · Feb 4, 2026

DC Patriots said:
JSN is very good. Pats focus after stopping the run will be to stop JSN. I don’t think Gonzo 1 v 1 to erase him is the whole plan

It better not be.

Patsfan1645 · Feb 4, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
JSN is like Michael Thomas hoarding all the targets. If Gonzalez can wipe him out, their drives will stall assuming the Pats stop the run. This was what happened to the Saints between 2017-2019.

I would agree with this take if I thought Gonzalez could wipe him out but I am not sold on the fact that Gonzalez is Gilmore or Revis. If they do match him up one on one I hope your right.

SVN · Feb 4, 2026

i dont think Gonzales is revis either. Put him on cupp or shaheed and double JSN with a safety with LBs constantly hitting him at the LOS if he is close. he has to the central focus to take out of the game like old patriots teams used to do. Problem is he is a great route runner so might easier said than done. So pressure on darnold is the way to make it easier

Pape · Feb 4, 2026

it will be a mix of man and zone in the game, so there will be points where Gonzo is not up against jsn... so i do not think blanket coverage will be the order of the day... there will be heaps of it, but it will not be the Gonzo vs JSN show in the secondary all game long...

JoeSixPat · Feb 4, 2026

He's also playing for his next contract.

Yes, the Pats can exercise his 5th year option for a decent one year payout, but he'll be looking for Sauce Gardner money - which he'll certainly get if he plays the way he can!

So he's probably got $150 million reasons why he wants to have a big game!

TheRainMaker · Feb 4, 2026

Patsfan1645 said:
I would agree with this take if I thought Gonzalez could wipe him out but I am not sold on the fact that Gonzalez is Gilmore or Revis. If they do match him up one on one I hope your right.

This will be his big test to show the world he's elite.

Guts · Feb 4, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
This will be his big test to show the world he's elite.

I could live with Gonzo being toast by jSN for a play or two if that.means he wins most of the matchups. that'll be a good sign for us

TommyD4207 · Feb 4, 2026

TheRainMaker said:
This will be his big test to show the world he's elite.

In his last two games, he outplayed Stingley and Surtain - and I gotta say Surtain was fantastic, that was as good as I saw a corner play against the Patriots all year.

Huckleberry1 · Feb 4, 2026

aluminum seats said:
If my quick math here is right, Jaxon Smith-Njigba accounted for 44.3% of Seattle's receiving yards this season. Holy cow. Gotta be top 5 in history on that basis, right?

If Gonzalez can handle him on his own, watch out.

Christian Gonzalez allowed fewer than 40% of passes thrown to the man he was covering to be completed, the first time that's been done since 2018, and he allowed 1 touchdown in 3 years, and there were numerous posters here crapping on him. He's an All Pro caliber corner, they should re-sign him immediately

JoeSixPat · Feb 4, 2026

Huckleberry1 said:
Christian Gonzalez allowed fewer than 40% of passes thrown to the man he was covering to be completed, the first time that's been done since 2018, and he allowed 1 touchdown in 3 years, and there were numerous posters here crapping on him. He's an All Pro caliber corner, they should re-sign him immediately

And just to put that in context, Diggs caught 83% of the passes thrown his way - and that's him against pretty much the #1 CB on each team - everyone else's version of Gonzo.

Thank goodness Gonzo is on our team and not limiting OUR top WR to a 40% completion rate!

Obviously they're not going to let him walk in 2026 as they'll exercise his fifth year option, but much more likely they extend him further to keep the cap hit reasonable down the line.

Yes, this means Gonzo would take a discount over what he'd get if he were an actual free agent, but I'd expect he'll want more than what the Jets gave Sauce Gardner.

Assuming he's healthy and they let him hit actual free agency (I guess they could tag him in 2027 for $20 mil too) he'd be a prime target for an AFC East rival (such that one exists) who knows its a two-fer to take Gonzo away from us and add him to their team.

TommyD4207 · Feb 4, 2026

Huckleberry1 said:
Christian Gonzalez allowed fewer than 40% of passes thrown to the man he was covering to be completed, the first time that's been done since 2018, and he allowed 1 touchdown in 3 years, and there were numerous posters here crapping on him. He's an All Pro caliber corner, they should re-sign him immediately

These are the same people who shat all over Steph Gilmore, even during his ****ing DPOY season.

They wouldn't know cornerback play from a hole in their head.

Sect140 · Feb 4, 2026

Sometimes Bill would put his best CB on the #2 receiver and double team the #1 receiver. It will be interesting to see how the Pats play JSN.

aluminum seats · Feb 4, 2026

Patsfan1645 said:
let Gonzalez erase Kupp

SVN said:
i dont think Gonzales is revis either. Put him on cupp

I know that Belichick‘s go to move was doubling the top guy and letting our top corner take the next guy, and maybe that’s what the play is here and maybe that’s what they’ll do.

But man, putting Gonzales on a guy with 500 yards this season feels like such a waste of resources. Maybe they’ll mix and match or whatever, I’m just saying if Gonzales could step up on this stage and take this guy out the Pats are winning.

Zuma · Feb 4, 2026

aluminum seats said:
But man, putting Gonzales on a guy with 500 yards this season feels like such a waste of resources.

Yes but it's the superbowl, IMO Kupp is going to give everything he's got and will look like Kupp of old if we let him.

aluminum seats said:
Maybe they’ll mix and match or whatever, I’m just saying if Gonzales could step up on this stage and take this guy out the Pats are winning.

MrTibbs · Feb 4, 2026

aluminum seats said:
If my quick math here is right, Jaxon Smith-Njigba accounted for 44.3% of Seattle's receiving yards this season. Holy cow. Gotta be top 5 in history on that basis, right?

If Gonzalez can handle him on his own, watch out.

The Patriots haven't designated Gonzo to cover a single receiver all game once this season. I'm sure it will be a combo of players and coverages to challenge Darnold in getting him the ball. The Patriots can't allow one guy to beat them. You take JSN away and panic will set in, that's a given.

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