National Football League

49ers, Packers scuffle after Clay Matthews takes out Colin Kaepernick

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:47 p.m. ET

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By Sam Gardner, FOXSports.com After a physical first quarter, it seemed all but inevitable that the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers would come to blows, and with about 9 minutes left in the first half of Sunday’s rematch of a 2012 Divisional round playoff game, the frustration finally reached a head. With the game tied at 7-7, the 49ers were facing a third-and-6 from the Green Bay 10 when Colin Kaepernick was forced from the pocket. Kaepernick scrambled toward the left sideline and after a gain of four, he stepped out at the Packers 6. As Kaepernick stepped out, Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews came soaring in for a tackle, dragging the Niners quarterback down by the shoulders. Naturally, that didn’t sit well with the 49ers, and fisticuffs came in short order:

NFL rules expert, Mike Pereira said the ref's didn't get the call right:

Earlier this week, Matthews appeared on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike" and told the hosts that the Packers were planning on being as physical as possible with Kaepernick. "One of the things that the referees have told us is that when these quarterbacks carry out the fakes, they lose their right as a quarterback, a pocket-passing quarterback, the protection of a quarterback," Matthews said. "So with that, you do have to take your shots on the quarterback, and obviously they're too important to their offense. "If that means they pull them out of that type of offense and make them run a traditional, drop-back, pocket-style offense, I think that's exactly what we're going for. So you want to put hits as early and often on the quarterback and make them uncomfortable." Pereira sounded off on Matthews' hit, saying the LB will hear from the league:

Sure enough, Kaepernick did stay in the pocket on the 49ers’ next play — but unfortunately for Matthews and the Packers, it was on a touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin. (gifs via Bleacher Report and gifdsports)