The Arizona Cardinals got a career day out of linebacker Chandler Jones on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. He had four sacks for the second time this season, two forced fumbles and six QB hits.
His play was a big reason why the Cardinals left Seattle with a 27-13 victory, their best defensive performance of the season.
With the performance, he blew right past the franchise record he set in 2017 with 17.
He now has 19, which leads the league and puts him within reach of the NFL record for sacks in a season. The record is 22.5, which means he would have to get four sacks in Week 17 to break it. He only has half a sack in his last three games against the Rams, whom the Cardinals play in Week 17.
Jones, in his third season with the Cardinals, passed Calais Campbell for second place on the team’s all-time sack list. He is 6.5 sacks away from the franchise record in a career.
It should probably put him in the mix for Defensive Player of the Year, but considering the defense’s overall play this season and the Cardinals’ record, it seems unlikely.
Jones isn’t worrying about it.
“My biggest thing is just to do my job,” he said after the game. “I try to manage my expectations, do my job and put the team first, and everything else will take care of itself.”
He said he didn’t know how close he was to the NFL record until Larry Fitzgerald told him. “I try not to think about the numbers,” he said. “I just play.”
No one has more sacks in the league than Jones since he was traded to the Cardinals. No one playing at that level gets so little buzz.
It has become clear. The Cardinals have never had a better pass rusher.
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Ep. 252:
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Ep. 251:
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