Facing one of the biggest games of the season, Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews realizes he needs to step his game up to another level.
Credited with just one assisted tackle by his coaches the past two games (none by national statisticians), Matthews still obviously has the support of his coaches. Head coach Mike McCarthy called him “clearly our most disruptive player,” per the team website, and Matthews has been active.
The six-time Pro Bowler expects more out of himself, though, and knows his team needs him to make an impact on the stat sheet this upcoming Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings come to Lambeau Field.
“I need to find a way to be more impactful,” he told reporters gathered at his locker after practice on Thursday. “It’s not for a lack of being where I’m supposed to, or not doing my job.
“Playmakers have to continue to show up. You can’t continue to have games where you have one or zero tackles despite being disruptive.”
Matthews needs another performance like he put together the last time the Packers played the Vikings to ensure his team ends up with the NFC North crown.
Back in Week 12 he tallied six tackles, stuffed Adrian Peterson twice behind the line for a combined loss of six yards and the Packers held Peterson to just 45 yards on 13 carries.
Playing injured for part of the season, this hasn’t been Matthews’ finest campaign.
Based solely on stats, he’s actually having perhaps his worst season since joining the league as a rookie out of USC in 2009. With only 5.5 sacks, no forced fumbles and one interception, his usual penchant for making big plays has been lacking.
There is no better time than the present for Matthews to return to dominance. If the Packers are going to finish the regular season strong and make a push to Super Bowl 50, then they need him to get his mojo back in a hurry.