Chiefs' veteran defender was Week 3's unsung hero after managing an improbable sack and more
Kansas City Chiefs DT Mike Pennel had a hand in some big plays during Sunday's win against the Atlanta Falcons, but none were bigger than his first sack of the 2024 NFL season.You rarely get credited for a sack in the NFL after you get put on your back as a defensive lineman. Well, Pennel […]
Kansas City Chiefs DT Mike Pennel had a hand in some big plays during Sunday's win against the Atlanta Falcons, but none were bigger than his first sack of the 2024 NFL season.
You rarely get credited for a sack in the NFL after you get put on your back as a defensive lineman. Well, Pennel can now join that exclusive club after his performance on "Sunday Night Football."
With just a two-point lead in the third quarter, Pennel stopped Kirk Cousins from extending a drive. It was third-and-2 at the Atlanta 36-yard line with Cousins dropping back to throw out of the shotgun. The repetition initially looked like a loss for Pennel, who was knocked to the ground by the right tackle while bull-rushing the right guard.
The pocket collapsed on the left side and Mike Danna flushed Cousins out of the pocket from the right. Cousins, who is coming off an Achilles injury, took off running knowing he only needed to pick up two yards. Danna flushed him into Pennel, who lunged from the ground to pull Cousins to the turf. Check out the savvy play below:
The Falcons would go on to punt the ball after this sack, leading to an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive from the Chiefs' offense, which gave Kansas City an eight-point lead that would eventually allow them to win the game.
Pennel also deserves his share of credit on the fourth down stop in the fourth quarter. He got off the ball quicker than anyone as he was aligned over the center. He helped clog those interior rushing lanes alongside Leo Chenal and Mike Danna, which forced Bijan Robinson further down the line and cleared a path for Nick Bolton to make the game-saving tackle to force a turnover on downs.
Pennel was credited with a tackle, a sack, and two stops in the Week 3 game vs. the Falcons, which was easily his best single-game performance of the season. He might not always get the credit he deserves, but he's been a stalwart member of this defensive front during his time with the team. He does the dirty work and plays with tremendous effort. He was recognized for his effort in Super Bowl LVIII. Everyone remembers how he helped transform the Chiefs' run defense leading up to Super Bowl LIV. This year, he'll remind the Chiefs Kingdom just how impactful he can be.
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