Monster start earns Bears' Mack NFC Defensive Player of the Month

Khalil Mack's five sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception, which he returned 27 yards for a touchdown - all in his first four games with his new team - earned the Bears' outside linebacker the NFC Defensive Player of the Month award for September.

Mack is the first NFL player to have a sack and a forced fumble in each of the first four games of a season. He is the first NFL player with a sack and forced fumble in four straight games since Robert Mathis in 2005. He's one of only two players since 1994, when forced fumbles were first recorded, to record four forced fumbles through the first four weeks of the NFL season, joining former Jaguar Tony Brackens, who did it in1999.

Mack is the first Bear to win Defensive Player of the Month honors since Charles "Peanut" Tillman in October of 2012. Mack also won the award in November of 2016, in his third season with the Raiders.

Mack is tied for second in the NFL with 5 sacks, trailing only the Cowboys' DeMarcus Lawrence, who has 5.5.

Mack has spearheaded the Bears' defense, which ranks first in the NFL with 18 sacks (4.5 per game), 109 sack yards and eight forced fumbles. The Bears' eight interceptions are second behind the Dolphins (nine), while their 64 yards allowed per game on the ground also are second best. They're tied for second with 14 three-and-outs, third in fewest first downs allowed per game (15.5) and fourth in fewest total yards allowed (294.5).