Stephon Gilmore named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for his lockdown performances in October.

He’s the second consecutive Patriot to win the award after Devin McCourty earned it in September. New England’s defense leads the league by a large margin with 19 interceptions this season and Gilmore recorded two of them in October — while adding on 11 tackles and seven passes defended.

Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore is named AFC Defensive Player of the Month. Gilmore had 11 tackles, seven passes defensed and two interceptions in the Patriots’ 4-0 October. It marks the 2nd straight month a Patriots defender wins the award (Devin McCourty/September).

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 31, 2019

The Patriots are sitting with a comfortable 8-0 record heading into November and Gilmore has a lot to do with it. He shadows opposing teams’ best receiver every single week and he most recently slowed down Odell Beckham Jr., who had five catches for 52 yards against the Patriots.

The Patriots now have four players who have earned NFL honors this season. Kyle Van Noy won AFC Defensive Player of the Week and Jake Bailey won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. McCourty and Gilmore won the AFC Defensive Player of the Month award, which isn’t surprising for a defensive unit that’s playing historically good.