Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews says that stopping Michael Vick was the key to beating the Eagles last week. So does that mean the key to beating the Falcons this week is stopping quarterback Matt Ryan?
Nope.
Matthews says that in reality, the Falcons' offense goes through running back Michael Turner, and that's the player the Packers are most focused on heading into Saturday's playoff game.
"There's a key guy you have to key in on every week," Matthews said on the Dan Patrick Show. "Last week it was Vick. This week it's Turner, and stopping the run."
It's easy to see why Matthews thinks that: When the Falcons beat the Packers in November, Turner had 23 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown. The Packers don't want to see Turner do that again.
But while Matthews has watched a whole lot more of the Falcons' game tape than I have, I don't think Matthews is right. Ryan is the real key to the Falcons' offense. The Falcons are a better passing team than running team, and it was Ryan completing 24 of 28 passes against the Packers that really keyed the Falcons' victory. Ryan is the player the Packers absolutely have to stop.
Clay Matthews: Stopping Michael Turner Key to Defeating Falcons
Jan 13, 2011 – 10:03 AM
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