Clay Matthews

Green Bay’s edge rushers are dangerous, no matter which one is coming. Clay Matthews is obviously tops on that list, so he’ll be moved around to take advantage of his speed against either offensive tackle. J’Marcus Webb doesn’t get low enough to off-set Matthews’ speed and Frank Omiyale is just plain terrible. Lance Louis might get back on the field at guard, but it won’t fix the problem. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers also likes to blitz safety/corner/linebacker Charles Woodson, creating several different looks using the All-Pro. He can blitz because he’s got the most under-publicized shut-down corner in the NFL in Tramon Williams and an excellent nickel corner in Sam shields.

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A Rashard Mendenhall fumble in the late third (caused by Clay Matthews) gave the Packers an opportunity for another score, which they took 55 yards, capped off with an 8 yard pass to Greg Jennings for the score. From there the Packers just needed to hold on. Even with a depleted secondary, the Packers never lost control.

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The Packers want to drop back into coverage and let Clay Matthews and Cullen Jenkins meet at the quarterback. Instead, the Steelers should slow the game down and feed Rashard Mendenhall the ball as much as possible. If he gets over 25 carries the Steelers will win, but a large portion of those must go to the outside as to avoid B.J. Raji. Dough Legursky will not be able to handle him at all. In the passing game, hit Ward, Wallace and Sanders on short slants and curls, giving them a chance to break tackles and get down the field. Every other throw should go toward Miller, who is a match-up problem for any of the Packer linebackers or safeties. How the Steelers should defend the Packer offense:

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But wait, it gets better.

The name on everyone’s excited lips this season was Clay Matthews. Matthews burst onto the scene this year with six sacks in the first two games. With 13.5 sacks on the year, the Steelers are going to have their hands full. Matthews gets off the ball quick and doesn’t waste time penetrating the protection. Dom Capers loves to send Matthews from different directions, so keep an eye on where and how he lines up. A.J. Hawk quietly led the team in tackles from the left inside linebacker spot, and he’s deceptively good in pass coverage with 3 picks and 10 deflected passes to his credit. Right behind him in tackles is Desmond Bishop, who also gets sent on the blitz enough to cause problems. Erik Walden came on late in the year with a few decent games (including a three-sacker against the Bears), but he could be slowed by a lingering ankle injury.

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ground keeps Cutler upright and puts the Bears in manageable down and distance situations, keeping Clay Matthews out of the backfield and on his heels.

Even if the Bears get their running game going early, Jay Cutler can make this game a blow-out… for either team. He’s been dynamically careful in the past 9 weeks, lowering his interceptions and racking up the wins. Is it somehow related to the fact that he’s not taking seven-step drops and being pummeled like he was early in the season? Could be… Regardless, Cutler must continue winning in the post-season if he’s going to shake the criticism. Tossing four picks just isn’t going to cut it, and against the corner tandem of Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson, he could have issues if he forces a ball where he shouldn’t. Williams and Woodson should see time on Knox, Hester and Bennett most of the game, but Greg Olsen could have another explosion on Sunday. Green bay has given up big yards to tight ends this season and Olsen has the speed to capitalize on their man-to-man coverages. Aside from Matthews, Green Bay’s linebackers aren’t extraordinarily speedy. And if they waste Matthews by putting him on Olsen on passing downs the Bears win that match-up by default. Erik Walden came on late in the season, but he’s not consistent enough in pass coverage to be a game-changer. A.J. Hawk is as solid as they come, but he’s a bruiser, not a flier. If Martz gets Olsen involved early like he did against Seattle (but never came back to), Green Bay’s defense could be loosened up for runs on the edges.

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Where line coach Mike Tice and the Bears are going to be preoccupied is with Clay Matthews, the stand-out second year linebacker that has racked up six sacks in the first two games of the season. Keeping him off of Cutler will be integral in the offense's success, but there may not be as much max protection as you'd expect. Martz may continue his gameplan from last week with more quick passes to the receivers and tight ends to take pressure of the offensive line and to keep the flurry of Dom Caper's blitzes away.

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Rookie linebacker Clay Matthews has ten sacks on the season, making him a stand-out in a 3-4 unit with Nick Barnett and A.J. Hawk.

What can we say about Arizona? They've been wildly inconsistent, but that was their problem going into the playoffs last year when they went to the Super Bowl! Kurt Warner will likely be without receiver Anquan Boldin, but the Cardinals are 5-1 without Boldin. Larry Fitzgerald will have a monster game either way. Now that rookie RB Beanie Wells is playing a first-round pick, the Cardinals have a semblance of a ground game. The biggest injury is to corner Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, who is questionable with knee and toe issues. If he's not 100%, the other 10 guys on defense have to pick up the slack.

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