Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston sets sights on sacks record

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Quarterbacks would be faring a whole lot better against Justin Houston this season if they avoided him as deftly as the Chiefs’ star linebacker dodges reporters.

It doesn’t matter that Houston is the NFL’s sack leader heading into the final week of the regular season.

Nor does it matter that he’s two sacks shy of 20, which would match Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas for the single-season franchise record.

He’d rather let others vouch for him than speak in front of a camera.

“It starts physically, a guy that’s extremely physically talented,” Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said, “but the thing about Justin is how smart he is. He knows situations, sees tendencies, splits, things like that. He has a good understanding of the game.”

Smith is speaking from experience having faced Houston in training camp, when coach Andy Reid unleashes the first-team defense against the No. 1 offense.

But even then, Smith usually has on the yellow jersey that is supposed to keep defenders from laying a lick on them.

Philip Rivers, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger have no such luxury.

“He’s just relentless,” Smith added. “Plays such good football in all situations. That’s the thing I see.”

When he was coming out of Georgia, Houston had a reputation for being far better at getting to the quarterback than dropping into coverage or stopping the run.

These days, he’s just as adept at bringing down a ball carrier or batting down a pass as he is pummeling a quarterback.

There’s a benefit to that, too: Houston’s now on the field in nearly any down or distance, giving him even more opportunities to harass the opponent.

He’s had at least one sack in five straight games.