We examine the NFL’s seven sack leaders to project who has the best chance of setting a new league record.
While the defensive end of the Cleveland Browns, Myles Garrettremained in the visitors’ locker room last Sunday, with his arm in a sling, the challenge of chasing one of the most prestigious records in the NFL it became evident.
Garrett is tied with linebacker Los Angeles Chargers, Khalil Mackfor the second most sacks in the league, with 13, leaving them just a stone’s throw away from 22.5, a mark for a season shared by Michael Strahan (2001) and the linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers, T.J. Watt (2021).
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“I have played with things that should have marginalized me before, and I am going to continue fighting,” he commented. Garrett before learning that there was no structural damage to the shoulder, and he can play next Sunday against Los Angeles Rams. “We have high hopes for this campaign.
“Nothing like this is going to limit us, nor is it going to limit me.”
To be clear, the Garrett He is not worried about breaking brands. It is focused on helping Browns (7-4) to reach the playoffs. But for that to happen, Cleveland you will need your All-Pro continue a pass that has left you in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.
When it comes to sack marks, staying healthy is crucial. Strahan He played in all 16 games in 2001, and Watt He missed one in 2021, a campaign already consisting of 17 games.
Watt is once again in a position to break the brand. His two catches in Sunday’s victory over the Cincinnati Bengals They left him with 13.5 in 11 games. He is tied for the league lead with Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikingswho scored 1.5 on Monday night against the Chicago Bears in his twelfth game. There is more at stake than team success or prestige for Hunterwho has incentives tied in his contract to his total catches.
Which of the NFL’s current sack leaders has the best chance of setting a new single-season record? ESPN Illustration
Here’s a look at the top seven players in sacks this season, their chances of breaking the record, and the obstacles each faces.
LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITY
T.J. Watt, linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers
Sacks: 13.5 in 11 games
Takes step for: 21
He could break the record because: He’s done it before. Well more or less. Watt He fell very short in 2021 when he was not credited with a sack in the final game of the regular season in Baltimore. This year, however, Watt can surpass the mark because, unlike 2022, he is healthy, and the emergence of Alex Highsmith provides to the Steelers the one, two combination that prevents offenses from sending double blocks against Watt.
It could fall short because: Pressure from Steelers about the passers is not consistent. Against the Browns in Week 11, Watt and the defensive line suffered to generate pressure on the rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. At half time, the Steelers They had no sacks or hits on the quarterback. Watt He finally caught on in the second half with a sack and three hits on the quarterback. — Brooke Pryor
Key stat: With two sacks on Sunday, Watt he adds 91 in just 98 games. It is the fewest number of games for someone to reach 90 catches. His brother, J.J. Wattis second on that list with 102.
Myles Garrett, ala defensiva, Cleveland Browns
Sacks: 13.0 in 11 games
Takes step to: 20.1
You could break the record because: Garrett He is capable of getting huge numbers of sacks in a single game. He had 3.5 sacks in a win over Tennessee at the beginning of the campaign. Two years ago, he had 4.5 sacks in a win over Chicago. Catches aside, Garrett He is having the best season of his career.
It could fall short because: Despite the best supporting cast he’s ever had at the helm, Garrett faces the highest double-block rate among outside rushing specialists in the league (31.8 percent). Garrett He continues to fight despite those double blocks, but often, his teammates clean up the pressure he generates with a catch. Besides, Garrett suffered the shoulder injury. — Jake Trotter
Key stat: He is the fourth player with at least 10 sacks in six of his first seven seasons. NFLjoining Reggie White, By Miller y DeMarcus Ware.
Khalil Mack, linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers
Sacks: 13.0 in 11 games
Takes step to: 20.1
He could break the record because: Just look at the game of the Chargers of Week 4 vs. Las Vegas Raiders. Mack He had six sacks — a franchise record in a game — two of which resulted in fumbles. Mack He can break this record due to his ability to accumulate sacks in bunches, as he has proven throughout the season. He had two on Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens.
It could fall short because: Chargers They had one of the best duos of pressing specialists in the entire league with Mack y Joey Bosabut the latter suffered a sprained foot during their Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers which sent him to the injured reserve list. With Bosa out for at least the next three commitments, the focus will be to limit to Mackand could face an increase in double blocks and help maneuvers, although that did not stop him Sunday night. — Chris Rhim
Key Stat: His 98 yards of catches for the season lead the NFL.
THEY NEED A COUPLE OF BIG GAMES TO GET THERE
Danielle Hunter, linebacker, Minnesota Vikings
Sacks: 13.5 in 12 games
Takes step to: 19.1
You could break the record because: Hunter He’s a tireless, experienced pass rusher who still has speed and perhaps more strength than ever after returning from neck and pectoral injuries in 2020 and 2021. And, opposing defenses can’t double-block as often, thanks to the unpredictable nature of the defensive coordinator’s scheme Vikings, Brian Flores. Hunter has financial incentive to stack catches. He has already earned a $2 million bonus for 12.5 sacks, and could raise it to $3 million with 14, according to the Roster Management System.
You could fall short because: Captures are generated in part due to luck and circumstances, and while Hunter has stacked them all season, his overall pressure rate (9.7 percent) places him No. 41 in the NFL. So unless he accelerates that pressure rate, he’ll need to continue his incredible pressure-to-sack efficiency ratio. He had 1.5 sacks on Monday night against the Bears. — Kevin Seifert
Key Stat: Leads the NFL in tackles for loss of yards with 18.
Sacks: 12.0 in 11 games
Takes pace for: 18.5
It could break the record because: Jaguars They are scheduled to face rookie quarterbacks in Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers y Will Levis of the Tennessee Titans (as well as possibly Thompson-Robinson of the Brownswho suffered a concussion last Sunday), and the nomad from the Cincinnati Bengals, Jake Browning. If the Jaguars can confuse those guys and get them to hold on to the ball, that can allow Allen and the rest of the defense come up with the catch. Allen He had 2.5 sacks on Sunday against the rookie of the Houston Texans, C.J. Stroud.
It could fall short because: The captures of Allen They have arrived in bunches, (10.5 in four games) and have had a history of droughts. He has gone seven- and eight-game stretches without a sack in the last couple of years. — Mike DiRocco
Key stat: Sunday was his fourth game with multiple sacks, tying him with Calais Campbell (2017) y Yannick Ngakoue (2017) for the largest amount in a campaign in the history of the Jaguars.
WITH THE ODDS AGAINST
Sacks: 11.5 in 11 games
Takes pace for: 17.8
He could break the record because: Last season, Parsons He had six games with at least two sacks en route to finishing with 13.5, so he can get hot. He now has four sacks in the last couple of games, and faces quarterbacks who like to throw the ball. Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks He’ll be visiting Thursday, and was sacked six times in his last outing. If it all comes down to the last match, Sam Howell of the Washington Commanders He has already been captured 55 times.
He could fall short because: Using history as a guide, he needs 11.5 sacks in the last six games. He has never had more than 9.5 sacks in any six-day period, and that came in his rookie campaign. He will have to turn on more LPs than he has ever done. It is possible, but unlikely. If other defensive dallas They can generate constant pressure, that would help their cause. — Todd Archer
Key stat: Had a 40 percent win rate against pass screens in Sunday’s win over the Commandersraising his rate for the campaign to 34.6 percent. Joey Bosa The highest mark in that metric for a season was recorded at 33.7 percent in 2017, when record-keeping began.
Maxx Crosbydefensive end, Las Vegas Raiders
Sacks: 11.5 in 12 games
Takes step to: 16.3
It could break the record because: The conditioning of Crosby It is his strength: –he simply does not get tired, his opponents and teammates say– and his production reflects that correlation. Consider that, heading into the season, 20.5 of his 37.5 career sacks Crosby They came in the last nine games of the Raiders of the Bell. Another late-season emergence could improve the odds of Crosby.
You could fall short because: Crosby He currently has 11.5 of the 28 catches of the Raiderswith only 3.5 arriving from the opposite shore to Crosby. With so little production coming from the opposite flank (Malcolm Koonce has two catches, the rookie Tyree Wilson carries 1.5), teams will send double and triple blocks against Crosby more and more, when they are not already sending help from the backfield. — Paul Gutierrez
Key stat: His 50 quarterback hurries this season lead the NFL.
2023-11-28 21:48:58
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