Earlier this year, it looked like the NFL single-season sacks record of 22.5 set by the New York Giants' Michael Strahan might be in jeopardy, especially with the added 17th game, as Pittsburgh's TJ Watt was about on pace to break it. However, Watt has dealt with some injuries and while he leads the league with 17.5 sacks, Strahan's mark likely is safe. Watt is the -175 favorite to win the sacks title and Chicago's Robert Quinn, who has 17, is the +150 second-favorite entering Week 17.
Watt has been limited to 13 games, and he was clearly less than 100 percent in at least a couple of others. Still, his 17.5 sacks are a career high and franchise record. Alas, he has just 1.5 in his past three games. Still, it's not impossible that he could get 5.5 in the final two games to break Strahan's mark. Watt's best two-game total this season is 4.5.
Pittsburgh hosts Cleveland on Monday to close Week 17 and then visits Baltimore in Week 18, which would be meaningless for the Steelers if they lose Monday. Watt had 3.5 sacks in a Week 13 win over the Ravens and 1.5 sacks in a Week 8 victory against the Browns.
Chicago signed Quinn to a five-year, $70 million deal ahead of the 2020 season and he was a mega-bust last year with just two sacks in 15 games. Frankly, if Quinn didn't have such a huge cap number, he might have been released.
Despite playing a large chunk of this season without fellow pass-rushing star Khalil Mack to deflect extra blocking attention, Quinn's 17 sacks are by far a career high and half-sack off the franchise record set by Hall of Famer Richard Dent in 1984.
The Bears host the Giants on Sunday and then visit Minnesota to close the Matt Nagy era. When the Bears lost to the Vikings 17-9 at home in Week 15, Quinn had two sacks. His best two-game total this year is 4.5.
Cleveland's Myles Garrett (+750 for sacks title) and San Francisco's Nick Bosa (+800) are tied for third with 15 sacks each. DraftKings oddsmakers give +1600 long-shot odds that any player breaks Strahan's record with no at -5000.
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