Game Ball: Oakland Raiders vs. Carolina Panthers
Game Ball is a weekly series that awards a “game ball” to the player of the game for the Oakland Raiders. Only one player will be chosen, and this one is for Week 12 against the Panthers.
Awarding a game ball to a player, coach, or anyone deserving is a long-standing tradition in the NFL. And that is what serves as the inspiration for this weekly series.
Some games, many players may be deserving to be recognized as the player of the game — while some games, maybe only a couple of players are deserving. No matter what, there is always at least one person who stands out above the rest.
In Week 12, that player was Khalil Mack.
Derek Carr and Michael Crabtree both have a case to be made, especially Carr, but Mack was completely and utterly dominant — therefore, he gets the nod.
Mack continued his dominant run, recording a sack in his sixth consecutive game, brining his total to 9 on the season. Beyond the sack, Khalil truly had a spectacular game.
Khalil Mack had an INT, sack, FF, FR and TD. He's the 1st player since Charles Woodson in 2009 to do all 5 of those things in same game. pic.twitter.com/XI8DS22Bqb
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 28, 2016
Mack had an interception which he returned for a touchdown — it was the first TD of his career — and a strip-sack that he recovered to clinch the win.
It’s incredible that Mack became the first player since Charles Woodson to do all five of those in the same game. Literally passing the torch.
Mack also had 6 tackles, 3 QB hits and a pass deflection. He was a big reason why the Raiders won this game and moved to 9-2 on the season, clinching their first winning season since 2002.
Just Win, Baby.