'Every Game Is Personal!' Dallas Cowboys' Stephon Gilmore Preps For Former Team Patriots

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore is keeping a level head before facing his former team in the New England Patriots.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore is facing the New England Patriots for the third time since being traded by them midway through the 2021 season.

While it'd be reasonable for Gilmore to have a little extra motivation heading into this week's matchup to lock down his, the 12-year NFL veteran hasn't had any difficulty in keeping a level head while preparing to go up against his former boss in head coach Bill Belichick. Gilmore's treating this week's matchup just like any other game.

"It's a big game because it's the next game. They've got a good football team, great coach, so it's going to be a big challenge for us to go out and execute how we know we can," Gilmore said. "Every game is personal that you're playing.''

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore looks on at MetLife Stadium before their game against the New York Giants Sept. 10. The Cowboys won 40-0 / USA TODAY Sports

Gilmore was named a Pro Bowler three times, a First Team AP All-Pro twice and won the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year award in four seasons in Foxboro, Massachusetts. In 2019, Gilmore led the NFL with six interceptions and 20 passes defended, while scoring his only two career touchdowns and holding opposing quarterbacks to a 44.1 passer rating.

After one-season stints in Carolina and Indianapolis each of the last two years, Gilmore was traded to Dallas back in March and, through three games, has one interception and three other pass break-ups.

Gilmore's health and success in the Cowboys' secondary have become even more important with cornerback Trevon Diggs' torn ACL, despite Dallas having the option to explore elsewhere to fill the void.

In two prior matchups against New England, Gilmore has recorded six tackles and an interception. ... and maybe a level head is best.

Heading into matchup No. 3 versus the Patriots, he is carrying with him some lessons taught to him by "one of the greatest coaches in all time" in Belichick.

"(He) taught me a lot about the game, about preparing and studying, stuff like that," Gilmore said. "I appreciate him for it, but on Sunday, I'm going against him, so it'll be fun."