Filed under: Eagles, Packers, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL AnalysisPHILADELPHIA -- Out of nowhere the game suddenly turned harrowing for the elite Packers, the forgotten quarterback entering this opening Sunday, the freelancing one subbing for the woozy Aaron Rodgers wannabe, had the home team within a touchdown and driving.
Fourth-and-1 from the Packers 42, first play inside the two-minute warning, you just knew whose number the Eagles would call. After all, Michael Vick had already rushed for 103 yards and he resembled the old Michael Vick doing so, ad-libbing in the face of jailbreak, winking by the rushers like a ghost.
But ask any coach: Just because you know something is coming in this league doesn't mean you can stop it.
Unless, of course, you have Clay Matthews on your side. And beyond the fantastic Rodgers and that potent offense, it is that defense, led by Matthews and his flowing blond locks, that is the reason the Packers just might be the scariest team in the NFC. Matthews shed two blockers, a tight end and a chipping back, and shot through the middle to swallow up Vick behind the line of scrimmage for the game-saving tackle.
Matthews had two sacks and seven tackles on the day, one of them a vicious hit on Eagles new starter Kevin Kolb that ultimately knocked him out of the game with a concussion. It was midway through the second quarter and Kolb had been flushed out of the pocket again on a third and long and Matthews hunted him down, bounty style, driving him headfirst into the turf. Kolb rose quickly, a chunk of dirt stuck to his facemask, and wobbled to his sidelines exercising his chin. The first-year starting quarterback came out for the next series but according to Eagles coach Andy Reid, soon fell ill and so Vick started the second half.
Packers 27, Eagles 20: Check Box Score | Recap
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