Justin Houston nearing Derrick Thomas' Chiefs single-season sack record

The biggest thing to watch this weekend is the Kansas City Chiefs spot in the AFC playoff picture. But there is another item on the agenda this week and next we'll need to pay attention to. Chiefs LB Justin Houston is currently tied for the NFL lead with 17 sacks. He is the favorite to win the sack title.

Here in Kansas City, he's close to matching a Hall of Famer. Houston's 17 sacks are three shy of the Chiefs single-season sack record set by Derrick Thomas in 1990. Those 20 sacks came in DT's second season, which is just insane to think about now. Though he did hit 20 sacks that season, the next highest total he had in his career was 14.5 sacks.

The Chiefs on Sunday play the Steelers who have given up the ninth most sacks this year (32). Then there are the San Diego Chargers who have given up the 15th most sacks this year (27).

Dating back to the start of the 2013 season, Houston has played in 25 NFL games (11 last season, 14 this season). In those 25 games, he has 28 sacks (11 last season, 17 this season). There have been just three games this season where Houston did not have a sack while he has multiple sacks in five of his games so far this year.

Also with one more sack, Houston will move into third place on the Chiefs all-time sack list.

It's certainly possible for Houston to do this. If Ben Roethlisberger is dropping back to pass 45 times in this game, Houston's chances of breaking DT's record will rise, as will the Chiefs playoff chances.