Ezekiel Ansah has a knack for saving his best performances for NFL's Thanksgiving matchups. His latest exploits this afternoon in a 23-16 loss to the Chicago Bears, saw him reach the top of the all-time "Thanksgiving" sack list. The defensive end's new record stands at 8.5, eclipsing the old mark held by Hall of Famer Randy White of the 1978 Super Bowl-winning Dallas Cowboys.
What makes Ezekiel Ansah most impressive is that he is coming off a lengthy bid in the infirmary. Today's game against the Chicago Bears marked the first time Ansah had taken regular snaps since his November 4th return.
The hallmark "Thanksgiving" moment in his career came against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 26, 2015, when he entered a one-on-one matchup with Pro Bowl lineman Lane Johnson. On that day, Ansah was far too much for Johnson to handle, resulting in a 3.5 sack performance he chalked up to unmitigated "personal" factors. The unlucky recipient of his defensive onslaught was Mark Sanchez - Today it was Chicago's second-string quarterback Chase Daniel, albeit in a losing effort for the Lions.
With the loss, the Detroit Lions fall to 4-7, in what many would call a "season to forget," former Patriots' coach Matt Patricia's first in charge. The win steadies Chicago's pace at the top of the NFC North.