What Antonio Gibson told himself before his 90-yard touchdown

Antonio Gibson smiled and rubbed his face as he was requested concerning the 90-yard kick return he ran again for a landing through the Patriots’ 33-27 win in opposition to the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.

The Patriots had been in want of a giant play after giving up a 74-yard punt return to Miami on the earlier drive.

It didn’t take lengthy for Gibson to reply.

“I would like to start out speaking to myself extra,” Gibson stated with fun. “I used to be speaking to myself earlier than the play, like man, make a play proper right here AG. I requested and obtained.”

Gibson pushed previous a pair of Miami defenders and located a crease that took him up the sideline. He received the footrace to the endzone, zooming in for the rating.

“I caught myself making an attempt to look again on the defender, and I used to be like ‘man you’re tripping. Simply run. After that, I had my eyes on the endzone and that was that.”

Coach Mike Vrabel, who turned 50 final month, turned and sprinted down the sideline following Gibson because the play was unfolding.

“If he’s maintaining with me, then I have to run quicker,” Gibson stated. “I heard he nearly caught me although.”

Receiver Stefon Diggs watched the play afterwards on video and took a playful dig on the coach who performed 14 seasons within the NFL.

“I used to be like he’s gradual as hell,” Diggs stated.

The play was a difference-maker within the Patriots’ first win of the season. The Patriots jumped out to a 12-0 lead however rapidly surrendered it after Tua Tagovailoa began hitting his speedy receivers downfield for large performs. It grew to become a back-and-fourth contest with a number of lead adjustments.

Miami took it’s last lead of the sport with 7:18 to go within the fourth quarter on Washington’s punt return. The Patriots’ offense didn’t get an opportunity to hit the sphere earlier than Gibson answered together with his landing. New England’s protection held Miami scoreless the remainder of the way in which.

“I noticed him reduce across the edge. The kicker didn’t know the place he was at,” quarterback Drake Maye stated. “He simply stored turning and I knew he wasn’t catching him then. What a play. That’s simply this league. There are shut video games. In a single-score video games, you bought to return out on prime. That was superior.”

Gibson, who obtained 5 touches on offense for 27 yards stated he didn’t put collectively the whole sport that he wished to. However, he made a key play that helped seal the win.

“I had a number of good runs right here and there,” Gibson stated. “Shoutout to [Rhamondre Stevenson] and [TreVeyon Henderson] for doing their factor. We complimented one another properly as we speak, particularly with the warmth and the climate and all the things that was occurring.”

Khari A. Thompson

Sports activities Reporter

Khari Thompson covers skilled sports activities for Boston.com. Earlier than becoming a member of the staff in 2022, Khari coated school soccer for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.