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J.J. Watt, Justin Houston, Elvis Dumervil Vie For Deacon Jones Award

By Patrick Schmidt

Dec 21, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium. The Texans defeated the Ravens 25-13. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium. The Texans defeated the Ravens 25-13. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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The race for the Deacon Jones Award is down to three as Justin Houston, J.J. Watt and Elvis Dumervil hope to take the NFL sack title and possibly get his team in the playoffs as well.

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Deacon Jones was the first great pass-rusher in NFL history and invented the term “sack” and after the Hall of Fame defensive end passed away in 2013, the NFL created the Deacon Jones Award given annually to the player who leads the league in sacks. Robert Mathis of the Indianapolis Colts won the first award last year after posting 19.5 sacks.

This year’s winner may come up short of the total Mathis posted last year, but the trio of Houston, Watt and Dumervil enter the final Sunday of the NFL season separated by one sack as they chase the award. Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl outside linebacker, Justin Houston, leads the NFL with 18 sacks, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has 17.5 and Baltimore Ravens‘ pass-rushing extraordinaire, Elvis Dumervil, has 17.

Dumervil is in his second season in Baltimore and his 17 sacks match the career-high he set in 2009 when he led the NFL in sacks. Watt also is a former sack champion after leading the league with 20.5 in 2012 and a big performance on Sunday could push him to the top of the MVP standings as well.

Houston enters the weekend in the driver’s seat and takes on Philip Rivers who he has sacked once this season, but the San Diego Chargers have only allowed 30 on the season. Conversely, Watt faces rookie Blake Bortles who he sacked three times in Week 14 and a Jacksonville Jaguars team who has given up 66 sacks. Lastly, Dumervil faces the Cleveland Browns who have allowed 27 sacks, but will start undrafted rookie Connor Shaw for the first time.

All three have a spot in the playoffs on the line on Sunday in addition to their individual glory in what should be an exciting final Sunday of the regular season.

Who do you think wins the second Deacon Jones Award? Let us know in the comments section below.

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