Player of the Year
Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press in Houston on Feb. 4, 2017.
Mack contributed 73 total tackles, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and an interception returned for a touchdown during the 2016 regular season. He added 11 more tackles during Oakland's playoff loss at Houston on Jan. 7.
In a spectacular two-month stretch from mid-October to mid-December, Mack had 10 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a pick-six.
According to The AP, Mack beat out Denver's Von Miller by a single vote in the Defensive Player of the Year balloting.
Mack, who turns 26 on Feb. 22, is the first Raiders player to win the award since cornerback Lester Hayes took the honors in 1980.
Mack, selected fifth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, has 30 sacks and eight forced fumbles in 48 games with the Raiders. Since 2015, the former University of Buffalo star has a league-best 11 fourth-quarter sacks.
