Justin Houston Should Hold NFL Single-Season Sack Record

The Kansas City Chiefs failed to make the playoffs in 2014, despite a nice victory over the San Diego Chargers in Week 17. It was a disappointing finish to the season for KC fans, but there was a small silver lining to go with the letdown. Justin Houston became the franchise’s single-season sack leader by taking down Philip Rivers four times, bringing his season total to 22.

Houston surpassed the late, great Derrick Thomas to grab the Chiefs’ record, but should he have a share of the NFL record as well? Michael Strahan is currently the record holder with a mark of 22.5 from his 2001 season. Houston is currently tied with Jared Allen and Mark Gastineau just half of a sack behind Strahan.

For those who don’t remember, there was some controversy over Strahan’s record-breaking sack. To many fans, it looked like a gift from Brett Favre near the end of a game that was essentially over. Things like this do happen in sports. Players sometimes roll over for another player they respect in meaningless situations. Look at Derek Jeter’s meatball in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. You be the judge for Strahan’s case.

What was Favre doing? An NFL sack should not see a quarterback roll into the loving arms of an unblocked defender — the unblocked league leader in sacks no less. Intentionally or not, Favre was clearly doing his own thing on that play. The sack was a gift.

It’s possible the gift was given accidentally, but it was a gift nonetheless. Regardless, I don’t believe it was an accident, though Strahan and Favre have both denied the play was set up. I don’t believe Strahan was in on it, but based on the video evidence, I believe Favre gave it to him.

In a case that needs to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, a jury may not convict here. In a case that just needs to be proven more likely than not, the sack gets overturned, giving the record to Gastineau, Allen and Houston. The record would have been a nice pick-me-up for Kansas City, but Houston (who will be 26 in January), will still have a few more shots at it.

One more question I’d like answered: On the last couple of plays during the Chargers’ final garbage-time drive, why was Houston dropping back in coverage when he was a sack away from breaking the record? Who knows? Maybe breaking a record with a garbage-time sack just isn’t his style.

Aaron Charles is a Kansas City Chiefs writer for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on twitter @aaroncharleskc or add him to your network on Google