While Pro Bowlers and Hall of Famers generally hold teams' single-season sack records, the single-game list features a cross-section of performers. Opportunities presenting favorable matchups, or players rising up against quality competition, comprise teams' single-game sack marks. Since sacks became official in 1982, here is each team's best individual pass-rushing performance.
Arizona Cardinals: Chandler Jones (2021), Haason Reddick (2020) Two former teammates share this record, which stands at five. A Jones 2020 injury led to Reddick, initially miscast as an inside linebacker, being given a shot to replace him. This changed the former first-rounder's career path, with the performance — featuring three forced fumbles — against the Giants on a dreary December day doing the most on that route.
Reddick signed with the Panthers in 2021, and Jones returned. In Week 1, the All-Pro torched the Titans. Jones' five-sack day included two forced fumbles in a 38-13 win.
This doubled as J.J. Watt's Cardinals debut and launched a playoff bid.
Atlanta Falcons: Adrian Clayborn (2017) Clayborn capitalized on circumstances to tie for the second-most productive sack day in NFL history. The 2011 first-round pick played 10 seasons and topped six sacks in just two of them. This performance against the Cowboys in November 2017 vaulted Clayborn to a career-high 9.
5 that year. A Tyron Smith injury laid the groundwork, with Clayborn overpowering backup Chaz Green in a Falcons 27-7 home win. Clay.