3 Atlanta Falcons Who Were Quietly Awesome Despite Dysfunctions

Jake Matthews has been the Atlanta Falcons’ starting left tackle since the 2014 season. That’s a decade of sustained greatness at one of the toughest positions in the sport. While many may find fault with how great Matthews is, there’s no other term that applies.

Yes, there are other tackles who play at a higher level, but playing a position with so little margin for error for so long deserves respect. Matthews has been part of a myriad of Atlanta management and coaching combinations. There’s a reason he’s one of only two pieces of Atlanta’s old guard left.

Matthews’ level of play doesn’t drop or change, regardless of the quarterback or the coach. There is a level of play and production that is consistently expected and delivered every season. Since 2015, Matthews has not missed a single start, which is a testament to his incredible durability.

A position that has no chance of avoiding impact on every snap is usually going to be hit with injuries at some point. Matthews hasn’t missed a start in nearly a decade, with team positioning and playoff chances never mattering. Matthews continues to find ways to stay on the field and play at the expected level with underrated consistency.