By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star
Updated: 2012-12-14T20:31:15Z
JOHN SLEEZER
Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) in the fourth quarter during Sunday's football game on December 2, 2012, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. John Sleezer/The Kansas City Star
Dynamic duos
Most combined sacks by teammates this season (minimum five sacks per player):
| Team | Players | No. |
| 49ers | Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks | 25 |
| Broncos | Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil | 24 |
| Texans | J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus | 22 1/2 |
| Cowboys | DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer | 19 1/2 |
| Bengals | Geno Atkins and Michael Johnson | 19 |
| Chiefs | Justin Houston and Tamba Hali | 18 |
Chiefs’ top duos
Most combined sacks by Chiefs’ teammates in a season:
| Year | Sack leader | Sack runner-up | Total |
| 1990 | Derrick Thomas 20 | Neil Smith 9 1/2 | 29 1/2 |
| 1992 | Neil Smith 14 1/2 | Derrick Thomas 14 1/2 | 29 |
| 1984 | Art Still 14 1/2 | Mike Bell 13 1/2 | 28 |
Tamba Hali has been the Chiefs’ premier pass rusher since they traded Jared Allen after the 2007 season. Hali might relinquish the title this year to Justin Houston but, if so, he said it’s not a fair competition.
“He’s a better player than me,” Hali said. “He’s younger, he’s quicker, he’s faster, he’s definitely worked on his technique.“If you let Justin just rush the quarterback, he can get Derrick Thomas’ numbers.”Houston won’t get anywhere near Thomas’ franchise record of 20 sacks set in 1990. Houston has 10 this season heading into Sunday’s game against the Raiders in Oakland.But with a strong finishing push, Houston and Hali, who has eight sacks, could become one of the top single-season pass rushing combinations in Chiefs history. Thomas and Neil Smith had 29 1/2 sacks between them in 1990, the club record.Having a competent pair of pass rushers has made little, if any, difference in their season, but the presence of Houston and Hali can at least allow the 2-11 Chiefs to dream of better days ahead. Their 18 sacks put them sixth in the NFL among 1-2 pass rush combinations.Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks of San Francisco lead with 25. Denver’s Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil are behind them at 24.“They’re right up there with Denver,” Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer said of Houston and Hali. “It’s unfortunate they’re both in the AFC West, but the AFC West might have the best combinations of pass rushers.”But the Chiefs failed to sack Palmer when the Raiders beat the Chiefs 26-16 in October at Arrowhead Stadium. It was one of two games this season in which neither Houston nor Hali registered a sack.“We did a really good job and that doesn’t happen very often,” Palmer said. “We don’t assume that to happen again. Just knowing the type of player those guys are and the type of people they are, they’re coming in here hungry. They know what happened last time. So we know we’re going to get their best effort.”From the time they traded Allen, the Chiefs tried to develop a pass rusher who could complement Hali. Wallace Gilberry did an acceptable job for a couple of seasons and he even delivered a four-sack game against St. Louis in 2010.But Houston looks like he has staying power. Drafted by the Chiefs in the third round last year, he finished the season with 5 1/2 sacks in the last five games.He has almost matched that pace this season and has been ahead of Hali since the season-opening game against Atlanta.“Justin gets frustrated when he’s in coverage too much because he knows he can probably take this thing easily,” Hali said. “He could be on pace for 20 sacks this year. I told him to be patient. His time will come.”Hali topped out at 14 1/2, his sack total in 2010, when he led the AFC. He had 12 last year and, if he doesn’t finish strongly, would have his first single-digit sack season since 2009, when he had 8 1/2.But he narrowed the margin in his race with Houston by sacking Cleveland quarterback Branden Weeden twice last week.Hali in recent seasons has often been alone when the Chiefs chased after opposing quarterbacks. But having another capable rusher like Houston hasn’t helped his numbers.“It means I could be out of here,” Hali said, roaring with laughter. “They might not want me around anymore.”Then, getting serious, he said, “It’s a good thing. It’s good to have someone knowing if you’re not motivated, someone else will motivate you. It’s pleasing to know we can still get two guys to the quarterback and create havoc in the backfield.”For his part, Houston is the first Chiefs player other than Hali with double-digit sacks since Allen led the NFL in 2007.“That means a lot that Tamba would say that about me,” Houston said. “I don’t feel I’m better than him. I’ve been in better situations this season to make a play, so I can’t say that. But am I trying to let him catch me? No.”To Hali as well, their competition is friendly, but only up to a point.“I’m not just OK where I am,” Hali said. “I’m a competitor. If I could lead our team in sacks, I hope he understands that I’m going after him. We’re definitely competing for sacks.”
To reach Adam Teicher, call 816-234-4875 or send email to ateicher@kcstar.com. Follow him at twitter.com/adamteicher.
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