When the NFL schedule came out back in April, players normally the circle divisional matchups and primetime games right off the bat. But for OLB Khalil Mack, it wasn’t a secret which game he was most looking forward to playing this season.
The Bears travel to London next week to face Mack’s former team, the Oakland Raiders. It will be the first time the All-Pro linebacker faces his former team since he was traded just prior to the 2018 season when Mack and the Raiders couldn’t work out a long-term extension and he was jettisoned to Chicago for multiple first-round draft picks and more.
Now, just 13 months later, Mack is not mincing words on how he feels to face his former team.
Speaking with NFL Network’s Deion Sanders following their 16-6 win against the Minnesota Vikings, Mack shared his excitement to face the Raiders.
“This is one I’ve been looking forward to, I can’t lie to you man,” a smiling Mack said. “This is gonna be a big one.”
Mack already has 4.5 sacks and 4 forced fumble through 4 games in 2019, giving opposing QBs and tackles fits in each game he plays. Mack and a ferocious Bears defense faces a Raiders offensive line that has given up eight sacks in the last three weeks.
Teams have a hard enough time trying to keep Mack at bay as it is. The Raiders will now try and keep a vengeful Mack at bay, something no team has had to endure yet. QB Derek Carr might be in for a long evening in London.
