New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon has never played in the NFL playoffs, so he's using his team's late-season push for a top seed and first-round bye as a great source of motivation.
"It's different, that's for sure," Gordon said, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. "It's exciting. It's motivational for me and for everybody. I've never really got the opportunity before, considering the circumstances. So it's great to have the opportunity now."
Before the Patriots acquired Gordon from the Browns via trade in September, Cleveland never came close to even competing for an AFC playoff berth with the 27-year-old receiver on the roster. Gordon played in Cleveland during parts of the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2017 seasons. The Browns' combined record during those seasons was 16-48.
The Patriots, with an 8-3 record atop the AFC East, enter Week 13 as the No. 2 seed in the AFC, but the Houston Texans (also 8-3) and Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3-1) are right behind them.
New England hosts the Minnesota Vikings at Gillette Stadium on Sunday in one of the Patriots' two toughest games left on their regular-season schedule. The other is a Week 15 showdown in Pittsburgh versus the Steelers.
The Patriots will need Gordon to be at his best against a Vikings defense that's among the most talented in the league, particularly in the secondary. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who coached against Gordon during his days as the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator, is fully aware of the challenges the Patriots wideout presents.
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"It’s hard for me to remember back then, but he’s always been very explosive, catches the ball well, great speed," Zimmer told reporters during a conference call Wednesday. "I think he does a good job getting out of the cuts. And he looks really similar to me, how he was when he was with Cleveland."
Gordon has tallied 31 receptions for 547 yards and two touchdowns in eight games for the Patriots.
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