New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore had some harsh words for Antonio Brown, after the latter helped his Pittsburgh Steelers escape with a very close 17-10 victory.
Gilmore had the difficult assignment of covering the game's top wide receiver, and he fared well for the most part. However, the Pro Bowler wasn't happy with one of Brown's antics during their intense one-on-one battle.
"He did a little dirty move, grabbed my helmet, threw me down," Gilmore said, according to Zack Cox of NESN.com. "That was super dirty. But other than that, just competing on the field."
However, Gilmore also had plenty of kind things to say about Brown, whom many regard as the best wide receiver of this era.
"It was fun," Gilmore added, per Cox. "He's one of the best receivers today. One thing that he’s good at — it’s not his routes — but his (timing) … when he makes his move. He’s very good at it."
Brown finished the contest with four receptions for 49 yards, and he scored the game's final touchdown in the second quarter. Per Pro Football Focus (h/t Cox), Brown only had two catches for eight yards when Gilmore was covering him.
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Though Brown didn't have his most productive game, multiple Steelers stepped up to help them end a five-game losing streak against the Patriots. Rookie Jaylen Samuels led the way with 19 carries for 142 yards, while adding a pair of receptions for 30 yards.
James Washington led the team in receiving yards (65), on three catches, while tight end Vance McDonald made a key touchdown catch on third-and-goal on the game's opening drive.
What This Means
With the win, the Steelers snapped a three-game losing skid and lead the AFC North with an 8-5-1 record. The Patriots fall to 9-5 and will need the Houston Texans to lose a game, if they're to secure a first-round bye.
The Steelers have been overly-reliant on Brown in years past to win games. But they still managed to beat an AFC powerhouse without getting much from their top playmaker. That bodes well for a team looking to win its third Super Bowl of the 21st century.