Ansah could become first Lion to lead NFL in sacks

Dave Birkett | Detroit Free Press

And then there were three.

With three games left in the regular season, three players have a legitimate chance to lead the NFL in sacks.

Khalil Mack sacked Brock Osweiler five times last week and currently leads the NFL with 14 sacks. J.J. Watt, who finished second with 20.5 sacks last year, is a half sack behind Mack entering the weekend. And Detroit Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah is tied for second with Watt at 13.5 sacks through 13 games.

Ansah declined to evaluate his chances of winning his first sack title, saying this week, "We got three more games to go and until the last whistle in the last game, I got nothing to say about that."

But the third-year end has a legitimate chance to become the first Lion ever to lead the NFL in sacks.

Mack has been on a tear of late, with nine sacks in the Oakland Raiders' last three games, but Watt broke his left hand in practice and wasn't his usual dominant self in last week's game against the New England Patriots.

"I just hope that he gets well soon," Ansah said of Watt. "He's a great guy and I love watching him play."

Ansah has at least one sack in four straight games, and he and the Lions should have ample opportunity to get after the passer in the final three weeks.

The New Orleans Saints, who the Lions play Monday, are among the most pass-happy teams in the NFL. Next week's opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, allow more sacks on a per-pass basis than any team in the league. And the Chicago Bears in Week 17 are one of just two teams to keep Ansah out of the sack column this year.

Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin championed Ansah's Pro Bowl credentials today and said he's having a "tremendous" season all around.

"He gives you everything you want," Austin said. "And I'm so pleased with how he's played."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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