Sack Attack

Mack believes 30 sacks a possibility this season

- Michael Wagaman

The notion that Khalil Mack could get 30 sacks in one season — an idea that was first floated by Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and later confirmed by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year himself — at first seemed laughable.

There are only a handful of players in NFL history who have been able to get 20 sacks in one year, with Michael Strahan of the New York Giants topping the list with his record 22 ½ sacks that he registered in 2001.

Mack has been a beast on the Raiders defense despite being the focal point of opposing blocking schemes, but even his best year produced 15 sacks. He would have to double that output to get to 30.

Mack has 30 career sacks heading into 2017, meaning it has taken him 48 regular season games to get done what he believes he can do in 16.

To get 30 sacks in a 16-game schedule, a player would have to average just under two a game — not outside the realm of possibility for someone of Mack’s skills but nevertheless an incredibly difficult idea to fathom.

Upon further study, however, it’s not as impossible as it might seem.