On Mack's Back

LB determined to carry Oakland into postseason

In three-plus seasons in the NFL, Khalil Mack has already logged more memorable and amazing plays than most players who have spent a decade or more in the league.

From his five-sack performance against the Denver Broncos in 2015 to his interception return for touchdown followed later by a sack-strip-fumble recovery off Carolina quarterback Cam Newton a year later, Mack has compiled a resume that clearly has the makings of a trip to Canton, Ohio written all over it.

And he may just be getting started.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Mack has been on a quite a roll lately and seems determined more than ever to carry the Raiders on his back and into the postseason.

He had sacks in three consecutive games from Weeks 11-13 against the Patriots, Broncos and Giants despite the normal double- and triple team blocking efforts from opposing offenses. While the rest of the Raiders defense has sputtered, Mack has at times been a one-man wrecking crew.

It would be no stretch, either, to say that Mack singlehandedly saved Oakland’s season and the team’s playoff hopes with his sack of Giants quarterback Geno Smith in Week 13, a play that should be on loop on the Raiders’ year-end highlight tape.