ALAMEDA – Raiders edge rusher Khalil Mack was named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his extraordinary effort in a 30-20 victory over the Denver Broncos.
Mack was awesome in that game, with two sacks, eight quarterback pressures, a pass defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
His takeaway was well timed. It came in the fourth quarter, with Denver looking to trim a two-score lead. Mack sacked Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian and recovered his own forced fumble to give his team possession. The Raiders turned that turnover into points with a Latavius Murray touchdown that established a late 17-point lead.
That helped Mack win AFC defensive player of the week honors twice in a row. He was also rewarded for a two-sack performance against Tampa Bay in Week 8.
Mack has seven sacks on the season, including six in the last four games. He had 15 last season, when he was named an All-Pro at two different positions.
