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Khalil Mack Seals Raiders Win with Strip-Sack of Cam Newton (Video)

By Cody Williams

Nov 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on an interception against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on an interception against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oakland Raiders superstar Khalil Mack already had a pick-six against Cam Newton, but how he finished the game may have been even more impressive.

In Week 12 of the 2016 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders and Carolina Panthers found themselves in a classic. However, it didn’t always look like that’d be the case. After jumping out to a 17-7 lead behind Derek Carr, the Raiders got another huge boost. Their star defensive end/edge-rusher, Khalil Mack, made a terrific play to nab a pick-six off of Cam Newton before halftime. Oakland went up 24-7 at the half.

However, the Panthers stormed back in the third quarter, thanks in part to a dislocated pinky for Carr. They scored 25 unanswered points and took a lead at 32-24 going into the fourth quarter. However, Carr had returned and had a bit of an MVP moment with a game-tying touchdown pass and two-point conversion. After a stop and then another long drive, Oakland kicked a field goal to take the 35-32 lead. All they needed was a stop.

Newton looked poise to start the ensuing drive, getting two big chunks of yardage right away with passes. However, he was pressured on two throws and then threw one a little high on the next three downs. On fourth down and the game on the line, everyone was looking for Mack to make something happen. He did that and more.

Beasting the right tackle, Mack burst through the line and got to Newton quickly before he could ever throw. He helped take the reigning MVP down and stripped him in the possible, sealing the win with the monster strip-sack:

Say what you will about the Raiders winning close games, but sometimes you just have clutch players.

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Khalil Mack was vaunted as a breakout superstar coming into the season, but faltered early on. However, he had eight sacks in his last five games coming into Sunday. Now he has one more and in the biggest moment of the game. Because of that play, his Raiders are now 9-2 and atop the AFC still.

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