Stephon Gilmore Says He Wants to Cover Rob Gronkowski in Week 2

Keeping tight end Rob Gronkowski in check may be the biggest key to victory for the New England Patriots' opponents in 2015, and Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore wants an opportunity to do precisely that in Week 2.

According to Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News, the 24-year-old defensive back is hopeful head coach Rex Ryan will allow him to match up with one of the NFL's most freakish physical specimens Sunday.

"I hope I get Gronk to be honest with you," Gilmore said. "We'll see what the coaching staff says. ... I know the ball's going to him."

Both players are coming off dominant Week 1 performances as Gronkowski torched the Pittsburgh Steelers to the tune of 94 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-21 victory.

Gilmore was nearly as impressive in Buffalo's 27-14 home win over the Indianapolis Colts as he held T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson and Indy's high-octane passing game in check while registering four pass breakups.

The South Carolina product is usually tasked with shutting down the opposition's top wide receiver, but he has no reservations about going up against the 6'6", 265-pound Amherst, New York, native, per Dunne.

"I can go inside," Gilmore said. "He's a bigger guy so it's not like I'm going inside on a smaller guy. But like I said, it's whatever the coaches want me to do to help this team win. I want him."

However, head coach Rex Ryan said the plan was for multiple players to mark the big tight end, according to ESPN's Mike Rodak:

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"We're not going to ask one guy to cover him," Ryan said. "Yeah, he'd have to look like King Kong."

Ryan said there could be as many as three players assigned to Gronkowski on some snaps when the Bills host the Patriots on Sunday.

"He's hard to cover," Ryan said. "He's going to make catches. You just don't want him to go off on you for three touchdowns or whatever. He's as good of a tight end as there is in the league. He's pretty good."

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Gronk has been a thorn in his hometown team's side since entering the league in 2010, as his 543 yards and nine touchdowns are the most against any single opponent.

Considering the fact that the Pats' top two wide receivers in Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola work best out of the slot, having Gilmore cover Gronkowski while rookie Ronald Darby and Nickell Robey handle the others may be Buffalo's best chance to succeed.

Containing Gronk won't be a one-man job, as linebacker Manny Lawson chipping at the line of scrimmage and safety Aaron Williams helping over the top will likely come into play, but Gilmore is the Bills' best cover guy, and he may have what it takes to give Gronk some issues.

Buffalo boasts one of the NFL's most talented defenses, and it has enjoyed a great deal of success against tight ends over the past year, according to ESPN's John Buccigross:

Gronkowski is no ordinary tight end, but the Bills are one of the few teams with the means to prevent him from going off on a huge game.

Provided Gilmore is given an opportunity to shadow Gronkowski and the likes of Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes get some pressure on quarterback Tom Brady, Buffalo has a chance to pull off a massive victory at home for the second consecutive week.

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