Tag: sacks

Here’s what Garett Bolles told Russell Wilson when he first met the QB

“Hey man, I know you’re used to getting hit. You’re not going to get hit here.” Garett Bolles is ready to protect Broncos QB Russell Wilson!

When Russell Wilson, former Seattle Seahawks QB, landed in Broncos Country, he wasted little time acclimating himself to his new teammates.

Since competent blocking is what’ll propel the Broncos into Super Bowl contention, it makes sense to quickly introduce yourself to your blindside blocker. Talking to the media Thursday, Garett Bolles unveiled how his first interaction with Wilson went.

“He face timed me and we talked like 10 minutes, ” Bolles said, via DNVR’s Andrew Mason. “I was just excited [to talk with him]. I told him, ‘Hey man, I know you’re used to getting hit. You’re not going to get hit here.'”

While it’s a fool’s errand to think Wilson will literally never be hit, it’s not unrealistic to believe Bolles and the rest of the o-line can cut down on the number of sacks the QB takes. For context, Wilson’s totaled at least 33 sacks in every season he’s played. Some of that is due to his ability to extend plays and roll out of the pocket, but much of it was also on his line.

Denver’s line will aim to do a better job than Seattle’s.

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Matt Ryan traded to Colts, won’t get sacked by Cameron Jordan again until 2023

Matt Ryan’s escape is only temporary. After being traded to the Colts, he won’t get sacked by Cameron Jordan again until 2023:

The NFL’s quarterbacks carousel kept on spinning on Monday, with the Indianapolis Colts trading for longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the latest big move. Ryan, of course, has been a career nemesis for New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan — whose immediate reaction to the trade was to ask when he’d get play Ryan again.

Ryan will be missed; he and Jordan have teamed up to create one of the greatest records in NFL history together, with Jordan sacking Ryan more often than any other defender has ever sacked an opposing quarterback (23 times in 22 games). At least that record will stand for quite some time.

But Jordan will have to wait to bring Ryan down again. The Saints aren’t scheduled to play the Colts in 2022, and it feels like a long shot to suggest the two teams will meet in this year’s Super Bowl. That means Jordan will have to wait until 2023, when the Saints are scheduled to visit Indianapolis for a road game.

If the Saints and Colts finish the 2024 season with the same standing in their respective divisions, New Orleans will visit Indianapolis again in 2025. The Colts won’t play the Saints in New Orleans again until 2027, when Ryan will be 42. Jordan will be 38. So there’s a good chance that 2024 matchup could be the last time these two rivals line up against each other. We’ll have to wait and see.

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Raiders DE Chandler Jones on Russell Wilson: ‘He thought he could get away from me’

Chandler Jones followed Russell Wilson to AFC West: ‘He thought he could get away from me, but I’m right here with him again’

No division in football has made more news the past week than the AFC West. The biggest news was the Broncos acquiring Russell Wilson in a trade with the Seahawks. Soon thereafter – seemingly in response to the Broncos’ upgrade at QB – the Chargers added former Raiders edge rusher Khalil Mack.

Those moves had a lot of people wondering how the Raiders might counter. They already had a strong edge rushing duo in Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue, but they wanted more, so they traded away Ngakoue for CB Rock Ya-Sin and signed free agent Chandler Jones instead.

If you’re looking for an answer to a team adding Russell Wilson, you won’t find one better than adding Chandler Jones. 

Jones has 107.5 sacks in his career. And a pretty good portion of those sacks have been of Wilson. To be exact, 16.5 of them. Due in large part to sharing a division with Wilson for the past six years as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

Jones’s jones for sacking Wilson is part of why he said he was very excited to be coming to the AFC West.

“I think I’ve sacked Russell Wilson more than I’ve sacked anyone,” Jones said in his introductory press conference Thursday.

“He’s a competitor. He’s a hell of a player. Even to have an opportunity to play against him twice a year will be fun. He thought he could get away from me (by) leaving, but I’m right here with him again, so that’s going to be fun to get after him a little bit.”

It’s important to point out that Jones said this with a big smile and that he noted he and Russell are great friends. He even went as far as to say he would be facetiming his once and once again rival quarterback.

It’s all in good fun for Jones to be excited to get after Wilson again. But it is clear the main draws for Jones to come to the Raiders was to play for DC Patrick Graham again and to team up with Maxx Crosby. 

Jones played under Graham in New England where Graham was the defensive line coach and outside linebackers coach. And Crosby is considering an up-and-coming star in the NFL, having just signed a monster extension.

The two of them can tag team going after Wilson. And perhaps Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert as well.

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Not-so-Super record: Cowboys QB Roger Staubach joined by Joe Burrow in dubious category

It’s one Super Bowl record that Staubach and Cowboys fans would have been happy to vacate, after holding the distinction for 46 years. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Football fans whose team doesn’t make the Super Bowl are often forced to find other things to root for. Maybe it comes down to pulling for a particular player, maybe it’s hoping a rival team loses. Maybe, as in the case of Cowboys fans and Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, it’s wishing good things for a guy who used to wear the star. Sometimes it’s about simply preserving your team’s place in history.

But then there are records you’d be just as happy to see someone else’s name etched next to.

Aaron Donald and the Rams defense likely got a sudden (if temporary) wave of silver-and-blue fans during the third quarter of Super Bowl LVI when the NBC broadcast team put up the following graphic:

Heading into halftime, Joe Burrow had been sacked twice. But in one particularly ominous stretch of the third quarter, Cincinnati’s offensive line gave up a staggering five sacks in nine dropbacks.

If Burrow got dropped one more time in the final 17 minutes of play, he would take over a Super Bowl record that Cowboys legend Roger Staubach had held all to himself for 46 years.

The Carolina Panthers surrendered seven sacks in Super Bowl 50, but only six were on starting passer Cam Newton; Ted Ginn Jr. went in the books as being sacked once, too. In Super Bowl XX, the Bears recorded seven sacks as well, but they were divided between Patriots quarterbacks Steve Grogan and Tony Eason.

No, until this past Sunday, only the Cowboys’ Staubach had been taken down seven times in a single Super Bowl.

Super Bowl X featured Dallas as the first NFC wild card squad to make the title game, their postseason run highlighted by Drew Pearson’s famous “Hail Mary” catch against Minnesota three weeks prior.

Pittsburgh, with a league-best 12-2 regular-season record, was anchored by their ferocious “Steel Curtain” defense, a unit that placed an astonishing eight of 11 starters in the Pro Bowl that year.

The Steelers defense got off to a hot start that afternoon in Miami, sacking Staubach on the very first play from scrimmage and foreshadowing a long day in the pocket for the Cowboys captain.

Pittsburgh got to him again on back-to-back plays late in the second quarter to push the Cowboys out of field goal range; Dallas nevertheless held a 10-7 lead at intermission.

Carrying that slight edge into the fourth quarter, though, the Cowboys offensive line finally caved. Staubach went down twice in one early three-and-out series; Pittsburgh broke through the line again on fourth down to block a punt out of the end zone and score a safety.

By the time Staubach was caught again, he was trying to engineer a comeback, down 15-10 with under six minutes to play. His seventh and final sack came with just over two minutes left and the Cowboys down 21-10. On the next play, Staubach would find receiver Percy Howard for a touchdown that made the score 21-17, the eventual final. (The Cowboys would get the ball again, but Staubach was all out of miracles, ending the game with an interception in the end zone.)

Seven sacks on the biggest stage of the season. It was a dubious record that Cowboys fans were happy to finally share with someone, and one they would have loved to let go of entirely.

And they nearly did, as Burrow found himself in the grasp of Donald one last time as he tried to conjure up a bit of late-game magic at SoFi Stadium in the waning moments of Sunday’s game.

Burrow managed to flick the ball away just before hitting the turf. If Donald had gotten home one second sooner, Los Angeles would have notched a new-record eight Super Bowl sacks.

But, as it turned out, had Donald been a second later, it could have been a different ending altogether to the drama-filled night.

In the end, the Rams won the Lombardi Trophy. And Joe Burrow put his name in the Super Bowl record book, right next to Heisman winner, two-time Super Bowl champ, and Hall of Fame legend Roger Staubach, albeit in a category both men- and their teams’ fans- would just as soon forget.

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Von Miller made NFL history in Super Bowl LVI

Von Miller is now tied with Charles Haley for the most Super Bowl sacks in NFL history (4.5). Haley played in five SBs. Miller has played in two.

Von Miller continues rewriting the NFL’s history books.

Following his two-sack performance in the Los Angeles Rams’ 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, Miller is now tied for first place on the NFL’s all-time Super Bowl sack list (4.5).

Miller took home MVP honors after he totaled 2.5 sacks in the Denver Broncos’ 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. After Sunday’s win, Miller is now tied with Charles Haley (4.5 sacks in five Super Bowls) for the most sacks in Super Bowl history.

(Unofficially, L. C. Greenwood totaled five sacks in four Super Bowls, but he played before the NFL started counting sacks as a stat.)

Miller is also now just the second player in league history to record multiple sacks in multiple Super Bowls, joining Justin Tuck, a former New York Giant who totaled a pair of sacks in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.

Going into Sunday’s game, Miller ranked 19th on the NFL’s all-time playoff sack list (8.5). After adding two sacks to his postseason total in the Super Bowl, Miller is now tied for 11th on the league’s all-time playoff sack list (10.5).

Miller is scheduled to become a free agent in March. If he returns to the playoffs in 2022 and adds just one more sack, he will jump into fifth place on the postseason sack list, a half-sack behind Reggie White (12).

Including the playoffs, Miller’s career sack total is now 126.

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Von Miller returns to the Super Bowl, where he can make NFL history

Von Miller needs one sack to rank No. 2 on the NFL’s all-time Super Bowl sack list. He needs 2.5 sacks to rank No. 1.

After defeating the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in the NFC championship game on Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams and outside linebacker Von Miller have advanced to Super Bowl LVI.

The Rams will face the Cincinnati Bengals, who knocked off the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 in the AFC’s title game on Sunday afternoon.

This will be the third time Miller’s team has reached the Super Bowl, although he sidelined with a knee injury when the Denver Broncos went to the Super Bowl in 2013.

Miller was healthy when Denver returned to the Super Bowl following the 2015 season and he had a huge game in Super Bowl 50, totaling six tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. That performance earned him Super Bowl MVP honors. If Miller has another big game against the Bengals, he could make NFL history.

Miller ranks 19th on the NFL’s all-time playoff sack list with 8.5. Two more sacks would move him into the top 10. More than two sacks would move him into the top five.

Charles Haley holds the official record for the most Super Bowl sacks with 4.5 in five games. Five players are tied for second place with three Super Bowl sacks. Miller could move into second place with one sack and he could jump to No. 1 with 2.5 sacks.

(Unofficially, L. C. Greenwood totaled five sacks in four Super Bowls, but he played before the NFL started counting sacks as a stat. Miller would need three sacks to top Greenwood’s unofficial Super Bowl record.)

Miller is already one of just 10 defensive players in league history to win Super Bowl MVP. With a big game, he could become the first defensive player to ever win more than one Super Bowl MVP award.

Super Bowl LVI will be played at SoFi Stadium (home of the Rams) in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. MT on NBC.

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Von Miller ranks 2nd among active players in career playoff sacks

Von Miller ranks 19th on the NFL’s all-time playoff sack list. With two more sacks, he would move into the top-12.

Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Von Miller has only made two deep playoff runs in his career, but he already ranks 19th on the NFL’s all-time playoff sack list, and he could move into the top-12 this weekend.

Miller has totaled 8.5 postseason sacks in his career. Among active players, that only trails Frank Clark of the Kansas City Chiefs (11.0; fifth-most all-time). Clark is yet to record a sack through KC’s two playoff games this season while Miller totaled one sack in each of L.A.’s first two postseason games.

With two more sacks, Miller would move into 11th on the NFL’s all-time playoff sack list. With three sacks, he would move into fifth place. Four sacks would move him to third place. Miller is six sacks away from second place and seven sacks away from first place (Willie McGinest; 16).

Miller and the Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game this weekend. If they win, L.A. will advance to face either the Chiefs or Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

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Von Miller got the best of Tom Brady once again, advancing to NFC title game

Von Miller has now sacked Tom Brady 8.5 times in 9 showdowns, including 3.5 sacks in three playoff games.

Sunday’s divisional playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked familiar for Denver Broncos fans.

Rams outside linebacker Von Miller totaled four tackles in a 30-27 win, the most notably tackle being a strip-sack on Bucs quarterback Tom Brady in the fourth quarter (and Miller promptly recovered the fumble).

Brady was also flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after berating officials following one of Miller’s hits on the quarterback.

Miller has now sacked Brady 8.5 times in nine games against him, including 3.5 sacks in three postseason showdowns.

Since being traded from Denver to Los Angeles mid-season, Miller has totaled seven sacks with the Rams, including one sack in each of L.A.’s first two playoff games. The Rams have now advanced to the NFC championship game, where they will host the San Francisco 49ers this weekend.

If Los Angeles defeats San Francisco, Miller will return to the Super Bowl (played at the Rams’ stadium) hoping to have a similar to performance to his Super Bowl 50 showing that earned him MVP honors.

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Cameron Jordan wins another NFC Defensive Player of the Week award

Cameron Jordan wins his second NFC Defensive Player of the Week award in three weeks:

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Three cheers for Cameron Jordan: the New Orleans Saints defensive end has won recognition as Week 17’s NFC Defensive Player of the Week after racking up 3.5 sacks against the Carolina Panthers. It’s the second time he’s won this award in the last three weeks, stringing together 7.5 sacks across his last three games.

It’s also a best-case scenario for the big defensive end, who started the year slowly and was beginning to look a little long in the tooth. But Jordan’s big second-half surge has done a lot to build confidence in the odds he’ll finish his NFL career in New Orleans. The Saints need to figure out something with his 2022 salary cap hit (which ranks fourth-highest on the team at $22.6 million), but let’s hope that’s a problem for another day.

For now, Jordan has a big opportunity to help his team keep playing with another big game in Week 18. He’ll face off with the Atlanta Falcons and Matt Ryan, his favorite quarterback to sack in the NFL — Jordan has sacked Ryan more often than any other player has sacked a quarterback in league history (22 times). The Saints still need some help to secure a postseason berth, but more impact plays from Jordan would really help them go the distance.

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Cameron Jordan sacks Tom Brady twice in first half, reaches 100 career sacks

Cameron Jordan sacks Tom Brady twice in first half, reaches the 100 career sacks milestone

Bang: New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan sacked Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady twice in the first half of Sunday night’s game to reach 100.5 sacks in his impressive NFL career. He’s now only the second player in franchise history to tally 100-plus sacks in a Saints uniform, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Rickey Jackson.

That’s a heck of a return to action for Jordan, who missed last week’s game with the New York Jets after testing positive for COVID-19. Clearly he wasn’t happy to be sidelined, and now he’s making up for lost time. If the Saints are going to knock off the heavily-favored Buccaneers they’ll need more big plays from No. 94.

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