Just when Bears fans (well, maybe it was more Bears media) was beginning to question whether outside linebacker Khalil Mack lost his mojo and was no longer one of the NFL’s elite edge rushers, he erupted Sunday against the Houston Texans with a sack-turned-safety, forced fumble, fumble recovery and a batted pass for good measure.
It was a vintage Mack performance who played at a level head-and-shoulders above anyone else on the field.
Linebacker Danny Trevathan said after the game that the entire defense fed off of Mack’s superhuman energy.
“He was back there trying to wreak havoc,” Trevathan said. “The whole team feeds off him when he makes big plays. That’s what we expect him to do. He had a big game, and he came out with the right mindset all week and executed his plays. A lot of guys stepped up when they tried to double him, and we had a lot of sacks today. That’s what you want to see.”
The Bears (6-7) have suddenly thrust themselves back into the playoff conversation and are one game behind the Cardinals for the seventh and final wild-card spot in the NFC. It’s performances like the one Mack gave Sunday that could make this club a sneaky one in January if everything breaks their way.
Mack now has 41 tackles and 7.5 sacks on the season.