Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones had a chance to make history on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. He entered the game with the league lead in sacks with 19. He had a chance to get to 20 sacks, something that has only every happened 12 times before, and an outside shot at the all-time season sack record.
The Rams had a different idea.
They consistently double- and tripled-teamed Jones or used running backs and tight ends to chip him, forcing other players to have to make plays.
The result?
Jones was held without a sack. In the last four games, the Rams have held him to only half a sack.
Jones still made an impact with a pair of tipped passes, a QB hit, two tackles and one for loss.
But he missed out on every notable achievement.
He did not get the sack record. He didn’t get to 20 sacks. And because Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shaq Barrett had three sacks in Week 17, Jones doesn’t even get the 2019 sack title. Barrett finished with 19.5 sacks, giving him the league lead, with Jones finishing second.
Jones still tied for the league lead with eight forced fumbles and set the team season sack record, breaking the previous record of 17 he set in 2017.
He still had a fantastic season and is deserving of the league’s Defensive Player of the Year honors, but because the Rams paid so much attention to him, he missed out on an even more special season.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 253:
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Ep. 252:
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