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21	Februar 2019

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Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews does not understand why he was flagged � yet again � for roughing the passer Youth Harrison Smith Jersey , this time while sacking Washington's Alex Smith on Sunday. Matthews think it's an indication that the NFL is "getting soft."Even Smith wasn't quite sure about the call that came late in the third quarter of Washington's 31-17 victory. Neither were other players � or the coaches � from both teams. Matthews broke free into the backfield, grabbed Smith with both arms and took down the QB in a seemingly straightforward manner."When you're tackling a guy from the front, you're going to land on him. I understand the spirit of the rule. When you have a hit like that, that's a football play. I even went up to Alex Smith after the game and asked him: What do you think? What can I do differently?" Matthews said."That's a football play. I hit him from the front, got my head across, wrapped up. I've never heard of anybody tackling somebody without any hands. When he gives himself up as soon as you hit him, your body weight is going to go on him."There are sure to be more questions and more debate around the NFL about what constitutes a penalty on such plays."I had judged that the defender landed on the quarterback, when he was tackling him, with most or all of his body weight, and that's not allowed," referee Craig Wrolstad said, according to a pool report. "That was basically my key � that he landed on him with most or all of his body weight."Matthews immediately put his arms up and slapped himself in the helmet as the flag was thrown. Packers coach Mike McCarthy threw down a play-calling sheet and argued with two officials about the call, yelling while chasing one along the sideline."I think Clay did exactly what he's supposed to do there," McCarthy said. "He hit him with his shoulder. He was coming full speed off of a block. He braced himself. So I was fine with what Clay did."In Green Bay's 29-29 tie against the Minnesota Vikings last week, a potentially win-sealing interception for the Packers was wiped out by a roughing call on Matthews when he hit Kirk Cousins."Unfortunately, this league is going in a direction that a lot of people don't like. I think they're getting soft. The only thing hard about this league is the fines they levy down on guys like me that play the game hard," said Matthews Youth Stefon Diggs Jersey , who actually was not docked pay for that hit on Cousins. "Maybe now pass rushers, guys getting after the quarterback, you'll just have to attack the ball."Smith's take on the hit he took from Matthews?"I'm glad I don't play defense. ... They can't hit us in the head and can't hit us in the knees when we're in the pocket. It's tough. I felt like he was playing football. He's played a long time. Hit me right in the strike zone," Smith said. "That's the new rule they put in, though, with these guys finishing quarterbacks to the ground."The rule preventing defenders from landing on the QB has been around since 1995, but the league's competition committee made it a point of emphasis this year. More than 30 roughing-the-passer penalties were called in this season's first two weeks."Every week," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said, "there seems to be another one that's a little bit questionable."With a heavy sigh, Matthews said: "Nine years, I've been doing it one way in the NFL, successfully, and now it just seems as if that way doesn't work anymore. And that's frustrating."Not surprisingly, Packers teammates agreed with Matthews. Perhaps more surprisingly, so did several members of the Redskins."Oh, my gosh. Look, I'm glad it was for us White Eric Kendricks Jersey , but then when I looked at it, I was like: What else do you want the man to do? Seriously, what else do you want the man to do?" Redskins cornerback Josh Norman said. "When I saw it, it was not malicious, ill intent. It was just a nice form tackle. ... I'm lost by it. I'm pretty sure (Matthews) is frustrated and he has a point." Holding a 13-10 lead coming out of the locker room, the Minnesota Vikings got to receive the second half kickoff from the Arizona Cardinals. The kickoff from Phil Dawson went through the end zone for a touchback, and the Vikings set up shop at their own 25-yard line to start the third quarter of play.The Vikings started the drive with a run by Latavius Murray, and then Kirk Cousins found Adam Thielen near the right sideline for a 16-yard gain and a first down to the 45. The Vikings then found themselves facing a 3rd-and-13 after a couple of attempts by Murray got stopped. Cousins then found Thielen again for an incredible diving catch that gave the Vikings a first down at the Arizona 45.Mike Boone then blasted through for a nice 20-yard gain to move the ball to the Arizona 22-yard line. On the ensuing third down, Cousins dropped back to pass and found Thielen in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown! Dan Bailey added the extra point, and the Vikings� lead expanded to 20-10.With his catches on that drive, Thielen went up to 10 catches for 114 yards, giving him his sixth consecutive 100-yard game to start the season. He�s good and stuff.Thanks to a penalty on the kick return, the Cardinals started their first drive of the third quarter at their own 7-yard line. The Cardinals did nothing, and the drive ended with Harrison Smith sacking Josh Rosen at the 1-yard line. Andy Lee came in to punt it away, and Marcus Sherels put together his best return of the year, taking it 20 yards to the Arizona 43-yard line.Latavius Murray kicked off the drive with the (new) longest run of the season for the Vikings, picking up 34 yards and setting up first-and-goal for the Vikings at the 9-yard line. After another run by Murray Kirk Cousins Jersey , Cousins faked a handoff to C.J. Ham, and then ran around the right side for a 7-yard touchdown run!Bailey added the extra point, and suddenly the lead was 17 points at 27-10.Arizona started at their own 25 after another touchback, and they picked up a first down on a pass to Larry Fitzgerald and a run by David Johnson. The Cardinals eventually found themselves facing another third down, and Anthony Harris jumped in front of a Fitzgerald route for an interception! That was the Vikings� first interception since Week 1, and set the Vikings up at their own 47-yard line.Unfortunately, the Vikings didn�t do much with the turnover, as they went three-and-out following the interception. Matt Wile came in to punt the ball away, and Christian Kirk called for a fair catch at the 13-yard line. A penalty on the Cardinals pushed it back further, and the Cardinals once again started at their own 7-yard line.The Cardinals got a big play to start their drive, as Rosen found Jermaine Gresham on a short screen that picked up 26 yards and got Arizona out of the shadow of their own goal post. A short pass to J.J. Nelson then got the Cardinals near another first down, and they got it on a carry by Chase Edmonds.As we move to the final quarter of play, the Cardinals are looking at 1st-and-10 from their own 46-yard line.We have fifteen minutes of football remaining from U.S. Bank Stadium, and the Vikings lead the Cardinals by a score of 27-10. Will the purple hold on for their third victory of the year?