HOUSTON – Longtime Houston Oiler and 14-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Bruce Matthews will be in Atlanta Sunday to watch his son Jake Matthews, an offensive lineman with the Falcons, play for a chance at the Super Bowl.
Jake will be playing against Clay Matthews III, a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers.
Bruce Matthews has seen another Matthews vs. Matthews battle on the NFL gridiron.
"We dubbed ‘em from the get go, 'Matthews Bowl,'” Bruce Matthews said about the games that matched him up against his older brother, Clay Matthews Jr., a linebacker with the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons.
“I’ve lost track, my brother and I had 23 or 24 Matthews’ Bowls,” Bruce Matthews said.
Bruce and Clay matched up for 10 seasons, twice a season, with the Browns and Oilers as members of the AFC Central division during the 1980s and 1990s.
Now, their sons, Jake and Clay, are playing for the NFC championship and a trip to Houston for Super Bowl LI.
“At least one Matthews will be in the Super Bowl here in Houston,” Bruce Matthews said.
"Whenever Jake plays against Clay, it’s like we want Clay to have a great game, naturally nothing at the expense of Jake, but the Falcons win at the end,” Bruce Matthews said.