Oakland Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Week One Gamers and Goats

August 30, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) during the second quarter in a preseason NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at O.co Coliseum. The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Khalil Mack: Gamer

When is this guy not a gamer? Hue Jackson, former Raiders head coach, paid him a fantastic compliment recently when he called the Oakland linebacker a “rolling ball of butcher knives.”

Mack is relentless and dangerous anywhere he lines up on the field. But credit where credit is due, the Bengals expected him, game planned for him, and did a good job of neutralizing him to a large extent. Andy Dalton did a good job of getting rid of the ball quickly and taking away Oakland’s pass rushing opportunities.

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But Mack was his typical self. He was all over the field, trying to make plays, and always around the ball. He very nearly got to Dalton several times, but a good blocking scheme – and a healthy dose of luck – prevented him from blowing up the Red Rifle on numerous occasions.

His stat line isn’t all that impressive – three solo tackles and one assist. But then, much of what he does will not show up in the box scores, just like last season. Mack is one of Oakland’s nastiest and most reliable defenders and can always be counted on to either make a play himself, or open things up so that somebody else can make a play.

Unfortunately for Mack, not enough of his teammates were able to make the plays today. Knowing Mack as we do, this loss – and how bad the team looked in losing – isn’t sitting well with him. It almost makes you feel sorry for Joe Flacco next week. Almost.

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