Three. Through three weeks of play, that’s how many strip-sacks Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus has tallied.
Nearing the end of the third quarter with the Los Angeles Chargers marching and stopped on third and medium, Mercilus, as he’s done all season, stepped up to the plate.
Despite the Chargers left tackle chopping Mercilus to the ground, he got to Philip Rivers while he scrambled away from a Charles Omenihu from the interior. Mercilus sprang onto the quarterback, then, while Rivers protected the ball from J.J. Watt, tapped it out.
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Zach Cunningham recovered the fumble at the Houston 27. In turn, creating Mercilus’ third-straight game with a forced takeaway. With the strip-sack, Mercilus also hit the landmark of four sacks in three games — he still has a quarter left to add to that.
At this point, Mercilus has exceeded expectations and could be in-line for another AFC Defensive Player of the Week award; which he earned last week.
