Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews has recovered from a broken thumb that slowed him earlier this season and if not controlled, the four-time Pro Bowler, could single-handedly wreck the Falcons’ offense.
He will be the X-factor when the Falcons face the Packers at 1 p.m. Sunday at historic Lambeau Field.
“He was playing with that big cast on his hand,” Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said. “He jumps off the film at you with his relentless motor. He never quits. He’s got multiple pass-rush moves. Most guys have just one or two, but this guy has got a lot of equipment.”
Matthews leads the Packers with 6.5 sacks. Overall, they have 38 sacks and rank third in the NFL behind Buffalo (43) and Carolina (39). Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has been sacked 30 times this season.
“I think Clay Matthews is one of the premier rushers in the NFL,” Ryan said. “He does it with different moves that he has, but he does it with unbelievable effort, too. He plays to the whistle every snap.”
Matthews, from his outside linebacker position in the Packers’ 3-4 alignment, plays off of the Packers’ massive defensive line.
“They have three big guys who are run-stopper types, and they have those outside linebacker guys and a couple of sub rusher guys that they bring in,” Koetter said. “When they get in their sub group, they can give you issues on both sides.”
In the Packers’ last outing, against Detroit, Matthews split a double-team block to force Reggie Bush to fumble. He also put a big hit on Detroit running back Joique Bell on a pass play and was stout against the run.
In 21 individual rushes against Detroit’s Riley Reiff (just five were double teams), Matthews managed merely one-half pressure. The Packers hope to get more pressure from Matthews against the Falcons.
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