Given the myriad mistakes the Green Bay Packers made during Sunday’s 31-17 loss to Washington, it seems likely that Clay Matthew’s flagged sack of Alex Smith would not have altered the game’s final result. Dropped passes, fumbles, and blown coverages doomed the now 1-1-1 Packers to a disappointing loss that saw them fall behind the Chicago Bears for the NFC North lead. While the game will eventually fade in the background of the season, Matthews’ hit and the ongoing confusion surrounding the NFL’s contact rules will continue to dominate the national discourse.
The penalty, the latest in a league-wide trend of dubious and increasingly frustrating fouls, marks the third time in three games that Matthews has extended possessions for the opposing offense.