“Not Jake!” Falcons Suffer DEVASTATING Blow as Star LT Jake Matthews Goes Down vs. Bills — ‘This One Hurts the Most’
Practically everything went right in the first half for the Atlanta Falcons against the Bills. They nearly took a 21-point lead into the halftime locker room and the defense has kept Josh Allen in check, but that didn't come without a major setback.
Late in the second quarter, Jake Matthews suffered an ankle injury and was replaced by Michael Jerrell—and he was just ruled out for the remainder of the game. The Dirty Birds just lost the anchor to their offensive line, and couldn't have received a more costly injury update.
With Matthews sidelined, it means that both of the Falcons' tackles are not their planned starters. But Dwayne Ledford has been a master with the unit up front, so let's hope he adjusts accordingly to help Atlanta retain their lead.
Jake Matthews won't return to the game for the Falcons
The Dirty Birds have been quick to use a lot of pre-snap motion in hopes of fooling this stout Bills defense, but Zac Robinson will (rightfully) have less trust in the unit up front without his Pro Bowl left tackle.
Matthews was drafted by Atlanta in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and has remained a key starter since. According to Pro Football Focus, his 80.7 pass block grade ranks 10th among 112 qualified tackles
The Texas A&M product has emerged as one of the NFL's best tackles in large part due to his reliability, as hasn't missed a start since his rookie season. Now, the 33-year-old's absence could loom large and potentially jeopardize the Falcons' season if he misses extended time.
Luckily, Michael Penix Jr. is a left-handed quarterback, so Atlanta didn't lose its blind side protector. The Falcons' offensive line has seen enough turnover, losing starting right tackle Kaleb McGary for the year during training camp and usual swing tackle Storm Norton has yet to make his season debut.
The offensive line is the reason the Falcons are so strong in the run game, so fans should be sweating right now.
Without Matthews, Bills DC Bobby Babich can bring pressure that Penix and the Falcons is more vulnerable against without Matthews. Both Bijan Robinson and Drake London shined in the opening half, but a Falcons team already struggling on the injury front just lost another key player—and this one is the team's most important non-skill position player.
“RING OF SCANDAL”: RHOP’s Wendy Osefo SPARKS OUTRAGE by Wearing Alleged ‘Stolen’ Jewelry After Claiming Her Burglary Was ‘Targeted,’ While Castmates Mia and Ashley Throw Shade in Resurfaced Interview
Wendy Osefo was seemingly caught wearing the diamond anniversary band she claimed was stolen in her supposed April 2024 robbery, just weeks after reporting the incident to the police.
Following the 41-year-old Real Housewives of Potomac cast member and her husband Eddie Osefo‘s arrests, which her former co-stars, Mia Thornton and Ashley Darby reacted to in an interview on Friday, images of Wendy at the 2024 White House Correspondents Dinner appear to confirm she wore the “stolen” item and a past interview features her claiming to have been “heartbroken” by the alleged violation.
In court documents shared by Bravo Snark Side on Instagram, which also posted images of Wendy and her ring, it was alleged that deputies had taken note of an April 27, 2024 photo on her Instagram page after she made $450,000 in insurance claims.
“Edward called Travelers Insurance on April 10, 2024, and said he needed to update their claim, stating his wife’s gold diamond anniversary band was missing. That same day, Travelers Insurance settled the claim for $25,380.00, which included the replacement price of the band ($4,500),” the papers stated.
“While reviewing the social media Instagram account for Wendy Osefo, deputies observed photos of Wendy prior to the burglary wearing a diamond anniversary band on her left finger. The ring was reported stolen in the burglary. Then, after the reported burglary, on April 27, 2024, Wendy Osefo is wearing the same ring on her left finger,” they continued.
Meanwhile, in a resurfaced interview on Gabbing With Gib in September 2024, Wendy was seen discussing the alleged break-in at her home.
“My family was away on spring break. It was our spring break trip with the kiddos, and I was just so heartbroken,” she stated. “I think a few of my first initial scenes [of RHOP] I’m just a little bit uneasy because we had just been violated, so to speak. It was the worst thing and so unexpected, especially since from my vantage point, and from the investigator’s vantage point, it was targeted.”
She then mentioned her children, Karter, 12, Kruz, 10, and Kamrynn, 6.
“At my core, what centers me is motherhood. My first thought was my kids. Part of the reason why I live where I live is for their safety, for them to have ample acres to be able to run, play, enjoy, free of anything. And when someone comes into your home, which is such a sacred space, and violates you in that way, you start questioning things,” she noted. “So I’m just glad that we are okay. We’re safe, and we are able to move forward from that as a family. But man, that was definitely gut-wrenching.”
Wendy also noted that because of the supposed burglary, she’d gotten additional security at her home and changed how she behaves on vacation and on social media.
“It’s altered the way I move, and you want to be naive and feel like no one is watching you, you can just live life freely, but unfortunately, that is not the case. So it has changed a lot of things,” she concluded.
As for Mia’s comments, they were made to The Reality Rundown and No Chaser TV.
“I need a second … I just … I’m shocked. I’m very, very shocked because I thought Miss 4 Degrees had it together. I thought she had it together. I mean, isn’t Eddie an attorney for heaven’s sakes? Like, what the f*ck?” she asked.
Mia also said she’d recently spoken to Wendy, who told her, “God has you covered.”
Wendy’s costar Ashley Darby also reacted to the news during a public event last with some shade of her own.
“This ain’t news to us, this just news to y’all. Zen Wen is in the pen,” said Ashley.
She later added that she was figuring out her “prayers” for Wendy.
The Real Housewives of Potomac season 10 airs Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo.
