Jon Gruden knows that Khalil Mack's play with the Bears makes him look bad

It took a few weeks, but Jon Gruden earned his first victory since returning to coaching when the Oakland Raiders won 45-42 against the Cleveland Browns in overtime.

Gruden was examined under the microscope the day he signed a $ 100 million, 10-year contract with the team in January. Khalil Mack, the best defensive player in the NFL, has done just that.

In four games with the Chicago Bears, Mack has pleaded for the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award with five sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception. His single presence and the attention he attracts have improved his teammates in Chicago, and the Bears are now No. 3 in points allowed and No. 2 in forced turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are struggling to rush and are 31st in yards allowed. At each stage of the process, Gruden seemed to ignore the mismanaged trade, citing each week how good it would be to have a good pass in Oakland.

But an article by Mike Silver from the NFL shows that Gruden at least understands that Mack's weekly shuffle of quarters is putting more pressure on him and the Raiders:

While he was preparing his face for what he hoped would be his first victory as an NFL head coach in exactly nine years and ten months, Jon Gruden was sitting in the area reserved for coaches Sunday cloakroom at the Oakland Coliseum. his mobile phone and had some decidedly disturbing news.

"Zut – Khalil Mack had another to undress? Gruden asked rhetorically, shaking his head in front of the assistant coaches of the Oakland Raiders in his midst. "Are you kidding me?"

Yes, another bag band. Mack has four straight games with a strappy bag – something that nobody has since Robert Mathis in 2005. Gruden said he did not regret the decision to take two first-round picks on a 27-year-old quarterback demolition machine. But at least, this article shows that he is a little self conscious.

To Gruden's credit, he is not forgetting: as Mack, the rider he traded against the Chicago Bears shortly before the start of the regular season following an extended contract dispute he continued his reign of terror against opposing quarterbacks – forcing a pair the Bears' sweeping victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gruden knew it would increase the pressure that drove him to defeat an already agitated Raider Nation.

Mack is not going anywhere. It will almost certainly be an irresistible force in Chicago for years to come, but Raiders can go from error to win.

Starting the year 0-3 with all kinds of defensive struggles kept the pressure on Gruden, but it's a little better now after a win. Finish a season with a winning record and Mack will no longer be the center. It's easier said than done.