Micah Parsons recorded his ninth and 10th sacks of the season against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, joining some elite company in the process. He and Reggie White are now the only players in NFL history
to record 10 or more sacks in each of their first five NFL seasons.
For his part, Parsons doesn’t seem all that impressed with his output this season. He consistently downplayed his accomplishment in his postgame remarks, choosing modesty rather than braggadocio.
I don’t think Parsons was being falsely modest; he’s certainly welcome to think as little of his output as he likes as he and the Packers pursue larger team goals. But are his claims true? Let’s take a look at his words and see if Parsons is telling the truth about his 10-sack (and counting!) season.
Claim: “[10 sacks is] the minimum.”
Analysis: Parsons comes out strong in his conversation with ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. He doesn’t even consider 10 sacks a milestone, but his minimum output. In the context of his own career, Parsons is correct. 10 sacks is actually the minimum amount he’s ever produced.
But in the context of the league as a whole, 10 sacks is far from the minimum amount. Even among other elite edge rushers, 10 sacks is still a feat. There are 10 defensive linemen or edge rushers playing on contracts worth a total of $100 million or more this season, and only Parsons and Myles Garrett have reached 10 sacks so far (though a few others are a good bet to join them). If it’s the minimum, a lot of other highly paid pass rushers have failed to reach the minimum as quickly as Parsons.
Ruling: Technically true, partially false
Claim: “I wouldn’t say it’s like a feat where it’s very easy or anything like that.”
Analysis: Parsons concedes that reaching 10 sacks, even if it’s the minimum, isn’t very easy to do. Looking at recent Packers history, we know that’s the case. Nobody has recorded 10 or more sacks in a season for the Packers since Za’Darius Smith did it with 12.5 in 2020. It’s not an easy feat to achieve, but it’s a noteworthy one.
Ruling: True
Claim: “It’s a standard.”
“Me and CeeDee Lamb used to say 1,000 yards is like the minimum. I feel like 10 sacks for the standard of player you are, that should be the minimum you should get. For me, mine was just always 10 sacks.”
Analysis: Parsons is making a straightforward truth claim here, one that he’s already proved himself. Any goal is a standard, and this is a goal he’s set for himself.
To be fair, it’s a high standard. Numerous players have reached significant levels of career success without hitting 10 sacks in a season. Former first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney has made the Pro Bowl three times in his career but has never recorded 10 sacks in a season.
Ruling: True
Claim: “When I get a chance, I win.”
Analysis: According to Pro Football Focus, Micah Parsons has produced 60 total pressures on 354 pass rushes — or chances — this year. According to ESPN, Parsons has “won” (that is, produced pressure on the quarterback in 2.5 seconds or less) on 23% of his pass rush chances this year. Generally speaking, yes, Parson does win when he gets a chance.
Ruling: True
Claim: “I affect the quarterback.”
Analysis: I mean, just ask J.J. McCarthy.
Ruling: True
Claim: “It’s about just getting to the opportunities.”
Analysis: This is probably Parsons’ most important claim. In previous games, the Packers have allowed other teams to stick around and keep the game close, making it hard for Parsons and the rest of the pass rush to cut loose. Against the Vikings, though, the Packers built a lead (or were gifted one, thanks to the Vikings’ special teams’ snafu) that forced their opponent to pass the ball, letting Parsons and company go hunt. They did.
Head coach Matt LaFleur agreed with Parsons’ assessment of the situation.
“It just goes to show you the importance of getting a lead where you put them into some situations where they feel like they have to throw the football,” he said postgame.
Ruling: True
The bottom line: Parsons is generally telling the truth about his 10-sack season and general performance. He does affect quarterbacks, and he does win when he gets the chance. But Parsons is underselling his accomplishment. 10 sacks is a big deal, and it’s worth celebrating. Hopefully it’s just the first 10 of many, many more.
