Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark has an aching back, but watching Fletcher Cox systematically dismantle Seattle Seahawks center Joey Hunt during last Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round must be relieving some of the pain.
Clark, the Packers’ best interior defender and arguably the best pass-rushing nose tackle in football, could be a dominant force during Sunday’s NFC Divisional Round game against the Seahawks.
Hunt, who took over at center for starter Justin Britt, couldn’t handle Cox, the Philadelphia Eagles’ powerful inside presence. He was too big and too strong for the undersized and overmatched Seahawks center.
Fran Duffy of the Eagles chronicled some of the destruction below:
More Fletcher Cox … watch him dismantle some blocks 1-on-1 as a pass rusher, draw flags, and impact throws. Injury clearly affected Fletcher in first half of 2019 but really bounced back down the stretch #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/HQQUHHUecS
— Fran Duffy (@fduffy3) January 6, 2020
Clark, one of the most productive interior rushers in 2019, will be a similar mismatch for Hunt if he’s ready to go Sunday.
Clark’s health is a concern. He missed Wednesday’s practice with a back injury, and he wasn’t the same every-down terror when he was dealing with back and lower-body injuries earlier this season.
Still, for most of the year, Clark dominated in the passing game. He finished second among all interior defensive linemen in quarterback pressures in 2019, trailing only Aaron Donald. He heated over the final four games, tallying 4.5 sacks and a big chunk of his total pressures.
The Packers will feel good about any obvious passing situation that gives Clark chances to rush the passer against one-on-one blocks, especially if Hunt – who lacks the size and length to handle No. 97 – is the matchup.
Clark will also be a big part of the Packers’ attempt to stall the Seahawks run game. Cox’s interior dominance helped the Eagles limit the Seahawks to just 64 total rushing yards, which included just 19 yards from running backs.
Also, keep in mind: Hunt has been battling a leg injury. Like Clark, he missed practice on Wednesday, so even if the Packers defensive lineman isn’t 100 percent, he won’t be facing healthy opposition.
The deep and talented front of Packers should have a sizable advantage against a beat-up Seahawks offensive line. Clark might not be 100 percent, but he could still wreck the game for Hunt and the Seahawks Sunday.