Menacing Mack is back on sack track

BALTIMORE — Finally, Khalil Mack got to dance.

He burst off the line of scrimmage, taking a wide angle to get to Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. Then Mack shifted directions, cutting back inside just as Flacco stepped into the pocket. He never saw Mack coming.

So, for the first time since Week 14 last season, Mack got up and did his sack dance.

But don’t mistake lack of sacks for lack of production. The Raiders’ 2827 win over Baltimore on Sunday illustrated how Mack makes an impact even when he is not racking up the sacks like he did last year. And part of his ability to still contribute is the diligence with which he approaches his role.

Opponents are unabashedly double-teaming Mack, who is getting used to the double teams. He is getting used to being held. He is even embracing the challenge of getting it done anyway.

“It was at least six,” Mack said, estimating how many times he was a victim of holding. “This game is fun. I love this game. I love competing. Those guys, even though they were holding, we were going to make sure we got there today.”

There is pressure on Mack to get results. He had 15 sacks last year, including five in one game, to cement himself as a bonafide defensive star. The bar is set high.

Against Baltimore, Mack was every bit the star even before he got his first sack of 2016. He got three hits on Flacco in addition to his sack. On a handful of occasions, he nearly got to Flacco, enough to force errant throws.

The commitment offenses have to make to stopping Mack creates openings for his teammates. Sunday, the Raiders brought pressure through those holes. The last drive, when the Ravens needed a field goal to win, Joseph came barreling up the middle to get in Flacco’s sight. The middle was open in part because of the attention Mack requires.

The Raiders’ other sack by Bruce Irvin, which forced a fumble, was set up by Mack, whose pressure made Flacco run toward Irvin.

“Bruce, ahhh man, he came like a bat out of hell,” Mack said. “He got that ball out of there quick.”

As good as he is, Mack has to produce even with the extra attention. That’s the burden of being a franchise talent.

There’s not another n punter in the league quite like Marquette King.

King enjoyed a fine outing in Oakland’s 2827 win over the Baltimore Ravens, averaging 51.8 yards per punt with a 46.5 average net. He pinned four punts inside the 20-yard line.

That includes one punt that he kicked out of bounds at the 8-yard line and led him to unleash a Baltimore-style celebration as he imitated the dance former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis made famous.

He followed with another punt that was downed at the 5 and went into dance mode again.

It was part of a strong special teams performance that included Jalen Richard’s 47-yard punt return — the team’s longest since 2012. The Raiders followed with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Seth Roberts.