Matthews leads strong Packers defense

Two great defenses.

Two great players in the hunt for NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Bears defensive end Julius Peppers and Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews.

Just another subplot in a game that figures to be loaded with them.

Matthews got the jump on Peppers when he was named the Sporting News' Defensive player of the Year earlier this month, but Peppers one-upped him Tuesday when Sports Illustrated's Peter King selected him as his top defensive player of the year.

So, the battle rages on.

“He's a fantastic athlete,” Matthews said of Peppers. “You look at him on film and he commands attention all over the field. He's physically a freak out there. He moves around like a guy who's not whatever his attributes are.

“He's really helped that defense turn around from where they were last year.”

Matthews has been no slouch either in Dom Capers' diabolic defensive schemes, recording 13½ sacks this season despite being bothered by a shin injury.

“Clay Matthews can be a defensive end, he can be a linebacker, he can be off the ball on coverage,” said Bears tight end Greg Olsen, explaining the dilemma the Bears face Sunday.

“He's having a tremendous, tremendous season,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy of Matthews. “He's an impact player on our defense. He really sets the tempo and the tone.”

Does he ever.

In less than two full seasons, Matthews has 23½ sacks, 11 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles and 1 interception returned for a touchdown. And this from a guy who couldn't get a nibble from any Division I school and had to walk on at USC.

“I think perhaps that helped me out in the big picture, not looking too far ahead and focusing on what was in front of me,” Matthews said. “My first goal was to earn some time on special teams, earn a scholarship, get some time on defense … five years later I was starting for a top-ranked university.

“I just continue to progress in my career, and I don't really see an end in sight.”

Now the focus of the football world is aimed squarely on Green Bay's mane man.

“It's truly an honor to be talked about with some of the greats around the league,” he said. “But in all honesty we play this game to win championships, and that's what I'm going to do. If I can pick up some awards along the way, that's fantastic.”