The Packers scored 45 points at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, the highest total ever recorded by a visiting team at the venue. Green Bay’s wide receivers Matthew Golden and Christian Watson led the charge, combining for 17 receptions, 335 yards, and two touchdowns against the Patriots’ secondary.
Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots’ cornerback who was matched up against both Golden and Watson, struggled to contain the duo. NextGen Stats showed Golden caught seven passes for 105 yards while covered by Gonzalez, and Watson had three receptions for 82 yards under his coverage. The Patriots’ defensive issues were evident as the Packers exploited mismatches throughout the game.
After the 45-27 loss, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addressed Gonzalez’s performance directly. “Again, when your best players don't play good, you don't have much of a chance in this league,” Vrabel said in a transcript provided by the team. “So, we expect a lot more. He expects a lot more. We need more from him and everybody else. It wasn't just him. Again, we got to be able to coach and be prepared, and then we have to execute. Just like it is every single week when we don't win, it's all of us, and it starts with me.”
Gonzalez received a significant contract extension from the Patriots before the season began. The team anticipated he would deliver strong performances in challenging matchups such as this one. However, his inability to limit Green Bay’s top receivers played a large role in the defensive breakdowns that allowed the Packers to set that record at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots will have limited time to regroup before their next game in Munich against the Detroit Lions, scheduled for next weekend. The coaching staff will likely focus on shoring up the secondary and expecting more consistency from Gonzalez as they prepare for the international stage.
According to Yahoo Sports.