FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore returned an interception 64 yards for a touchdown in Sunday's win against the Cincinnati Bengals, linebacker Kyle Van Noy playfully put his hands together behind his back -- as if he was being locked up by a pair of handcuffs -- to spark an end zone celebration.
It was an ode to "Gilly Lock" -- one of Gilmore's several nicknames.
The play, which came after Gilmore had already made a one-handed interception earlier in the third quarter, might help the eight-year veteran lock up NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. Teammates were campaigning for him in the aftermath of Sunday's performance.
The hype is growing around Gilmore, especially this week with the Patriots (11-3) hosting his former team, the Bills (10-4), in a Saturday clash at Gillette Stadium (4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network).
"He's doing such a great job, covering the best players consistently, making plays on the ball, scoring. He's done everything you could ask a defensive player of the year to do. His impact on the games are huge," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said in his weekly radio interview. "He's playing as well as anyone that's ever played the position."
Gilmore, 29, is tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. He has been the closest defender on 84 targets and zero have gone for a touchdown, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
If he wins Defensive Player of the Year, he would become the first cornerback to do so since Charles Woodson in 2009. Further helping his candidacy is that the Patriots' defense -- not the Brady-led offense -- has been the team's strength.
Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who has totaled 13 sacks, six forced fumbles and two interceptions, is considered one of Gilmore's top competitors. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who has won the award the past two seasons, is always going to be in the conversation.
Others in the mix include Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaq Barrett (league-high 16.5 sacks), Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (second in the NFL with 139 tackles and one of the game's best at the position) and Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (six interceptions), who could leap ahead of Gilmore with a strong performance Saturday.
Gilmore, who is in his third season in New England after spending his first five with the Bills, has drawn comparisons to some of the franchise's great players of the recent Super Bowl era with his approach to the game.
"When I was first drafted here, you had guys like Mike Vrabel or Rodney Harrison -- they were on the [scout] teams, giving looks to Tom and the offense, and trying to work on their craft at the same time and get the rest of the team better. And even being on the [scout] team, they didn't want to lose, and I think that tenacity, that competitiveness, definitely helped the team, and Stephon does the same thing now," said Jerod Mayo, who played for the Patriots from 2008-15 and is now in his first season as inside linebackers coach. "In one-on-ones and all that stuff -- he doesn't want to lose a rep. That's something you see in all the great players."
It wasn't long after his two-interception performance that the soft-spoken Gilmore said he was already looking forward to facing the Bills. That is another part of Gilmore's approach that has made an impression on his teammates and coaches.
"Steph works extremely hard, but I think he'd be the first one to tell you that at the position he plays, you're only as good as your last play or your last game," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "That can turn in a hurry."