GREEN BAY, Wis. --Clay Matthews said he wasn't targeting Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson during a second-quarter interception return in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, but the Green Bay Packers linebacker was fined nonetheless.
The NFL docked Matthews $22,050 for an illegal blindside hit on Wilson.
"I was just blocking whoever and it turned out to be the quarterback and obviously calls are going to go in their direction whether it was a blind-side hit or whatever," Matthews said after the game. "I'm just looking to pick up a block and unfortunately that's just how the game played out."
The hit occurred during a second-quarter interception return by Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
The Packers picked off Wilson four times on Sunday but still lost 28-22 in overtime.