Jake Matthews just isn’t at all times appreciated as one of many higher Falcons of the previous decade, seemingly resulting from a injury-slowed rookie season and one very seen penalty in a really large recreation. To state the apparent, although, these are a tiny piece of Matthews’ profession, and blemishes on what in any other case has been an underrated and high quality profession.

I used to be reminded of that on Sunday once I noticed the beneath Tweet (X?), which in flip jogged my memory that Matthews has the longest lively streak of consecutive begins within the NFL with 144. Matthews is one among simply two gamers to begin each recreation since 2015, the opposite being potential future Corridor of Famer Jason Kelce. Given the truth that his dad Bruce has the fifth-longest consecutive begins streak in league historical past, it appears becoming that Matthews is presently engaged on a major streak of his personal.

Matthews has missed only one recreation in his NFL profession and repeatedly grades out as wherever from an above average-to-excellent sort out holding down the blindside for Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, and now Desmond Ridder. Recognized extra for his cross safety than his run blocking all through his profession, Matthews has grown in that regard over time and because the offense calls for it, and he has been a fixture on this line now via three teaching staffs and three beginning quarterbacks. Final 12 months, Matthews began each recreation and earned a high quality 77.9 grade for his blocking, which positioned him sixteenth amongst NFL tackles, with 25 tackles permitting extra sacks and 31 being penalized extra ceaselessly in 2022. He’s the definition of a stable starter and is at all times out there, and has been each single recreation for the previous eight years.

Solely a few tackles—the good Mike Kenn and Bob Whitfield—have performed in additional video games or began extra for the Falcons franchise. In brief, Matthews has been what the Falcons hoped he can be after they drafted him within the high ten approach again in 2014, give or a take a dose of elite play right here and there. His profession is prone to be greatest appreciated in hindsight, the way in which many stellar offensive linemen in the end are.

We don’t understand how for much longer Matthews will likely be a fixture on this Falcons offensive line, however the staff hopes it will likely be at the very least for another season as Atlanta chases a playoff spot. If latest historical past is our information, his reliability and ruggedness will likely be one thing the staff can rely on.