It could happen. Matthews, who hadn't started a game since he was buffeted in a 35-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers last Dec. 5, did the simple things well, which was precisely what coaches had in mind when they came up with a plan to combat one of the NFL's elite defenses. Fittingly, as evidence of his distinction as the quarterback with perhaps the best sense of the Bears' offense, coaches finally installed a potentially risky no-huddle component to the offense. And they did it for a quarterback who has taken virtually no snaps in practice or games for nearly a year. But the real key to Matthews is deeper than anything technical.
Some guys get excited and their heart rates quicken.
This guy sometimes I feel I've got to check his pulse in the heat of the game. But he finished with 20 completions in 34 attempts, rarely throwing anything longer than 15 yards. That was part of the game plan. The Bears determined that when they turn the ball over, they usually lose, especially against an aggressive, swarming defense like the Buccaneers'. Matthews' first job, one that he executed to perfection, was to keep the ball in the right hands.