Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn knows the New England Patriots well from his stints with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets over the last decade.
Lynn was named the Chargers head coach before the 2017 campaign, but he was a coach for the Bills in the two seasons before that, and one of his players in Buffalo was Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Lynn is impressed with what he's seen from his former defensive back on film as he prepares for Sunday's AFC divisional round matchup with the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
"He’s improved if you ask me," Lynn told reporters Wednesday. "I know Stephon, know him very well. I thought last year, his first year there, he was kind of making his way through from maybe being in a different organization and this year, watching the tape, he looks like a completely different man. He looks lighter to me, he’s quicker on his feet, his coverage is tight, he’s physical. He’s a top corner in this league."
Gilmore had a fantastic 2018 regular season for the Patriots. He was named to the NFL's All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl. The 28-year-old defensive back also was the highest-graded cornerback by Pro Football Focus.
Gilmore will be an important part of the Patriots' defensive game plan Sunday against a Chargers offense that features a few excellent wide receivers, most notably Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. An excellent performance from Gilmore could be a deciding factor in whether the Pats advance to their eighth consecutive AFC Championship Game.
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