Miller: Vic Beasley deserves sack title

With one game to play, Von Miller sits one sack back of Atlanta Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley for the lead league in the coveted pass-rushing category - but he's fine if he doesn't catch up.

The Denver Broncos linebacker held the lead in the NFL's sack race for much of the 2016 season, but without downing a quarterback over his last three contests, Beasley has taken over, totaling 14.5 sacks.

Miller can appreciate the work put in by the second-year pro, who has helped lead the Falcons to their first playoff outing since 2012.

"I still have a game and he still has a game, but Vic, he deserves it," Miller told ESPN's Vaughn McClure. "He's the leader of that defense. I pay attention to the rankings and the stats. You see you're up by three sacks and then, all of sudden, you're down by one. It's like, 'Whoa, where did those four sacks come from?'

"You can't do nothing but just sit here and admire that type of effort and sit back and admire that type of game. Of course I want to lead the league in sacks. Of course I want to do all of these great things, individually. But when you look up and see other great guys doing it, too, it's not so bad."

Miller and Beasley connected over last offseason after current Falcons defensive coordinator and ex-Broncos linebacker coach Richard Smith introduced the two. Beasley, the eighth overall pick from the 2015 draft, had just four sacks as a rookie, but has turned it around as a sophomore.

"His game is similar to mine," Miller said of Beasley. "The only thing is, he's light-skinned with braids. Our games are totally dependent on our starts.

"He has a great start, from the first step to the second step to the third step. And he's like a little brother to me. Every time I look up and I see his name in the papers and on the stat books, I feel great because he's a great guy. You always want to see great things happen to great people."