In Week 7, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace hauled in five catches for 76 yards but was kept out of the end zone in the team's loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Since then, he's has tallied two 100-yard performances and, more importantly, converted four touchdowns in the past three games while his team makes a run at the playoffs.
Buffalo cornerback Stephon Gilmore believes that production can be quelled.
"He’s getting more balls thrown to him, he’s making plays down field, but I think if we’re physical with him, we’ll shut him down," Gilmore said Wednesday. "He just wants to get down field. He wants the deep ball. That’s his game, that’s what he’s known for is getting down field and making plays on the ball."
Gilmore wasn't able to play his usual style of hard-nosed, press coverage against Wallace their first time around due to his club-like hand bandage while recouping from a broken wrist. As a result, the wideout was free to double-move Gilmore at his leisure, which led to a number of big plays.
Since the club has disappeared, Gilmore's coverage has increased. After allowing a completion rate of 85.7 his first two games back, the sophomore's rate is now down to 56.5, according to ProFootballFocus. His aggressiveness has caught up with him at times, however, as he's been flagged five times since their trip to Miami.
As a team, Buffalo's pass protection has been pretty stout, as it's given up only 219 yards through the air per game and have amassed the third-most interceptions of any defense (20). When they miss, however, they miss big, as the secondary has given up the sixth-most home-run receptions in the league (13), passing plays that have gone for 40 or more yards.
