New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez has nothing but respect for Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka following the Patriots’ big win on Sunday.

Egbuka finished the game with six catches for 115 yards and one touchdown overall, but not all of his reps came against the All-Pro cornerback.

Gonzalez and Egbuka had a great battle when going toe-to-toe for the first time. The corner allowed three catches for 56 yards on nine targets, shadowing the Ohio State product for 32 reps. Gonzalez won several key matchups on the day, including two third-downs and one red-zone target.

The corner was particularly effective in man coverage against the wide receiver, allowing one catch on three targets for 11 yards. Gonzalez tipped his cap to the rookie after the game.

“He’s a good receiver. He got drafted high for a reason,” Gonzalez told reporters after the game. “They do a real good job. Like I said earlier in the week, him and Baker [Mayfield] have gotten into a rhythm very early in the season, and they continued it. It’s a fun challenge out there. It was fun. That’s what it is at corner.”

This matchup certainly lived up to its billing in more ways than one. Gonzalez continued to prove why he is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Christian Gonzalez’s true thoughts on Emeka Egbuka after 115-yard game