Chicago Bears defensive end Khalil Mack is set to square off against the Oakland Raiders for the first time since he was traded last offseason. It seems he will be doing his best to keep his emotions in check.

The obvious intrigue surrounding this game is revolving any potential hard feelings Mack has for his former team. According to JJ Stankevitz of NBC Chicago, he is trying not to let his feelings get the best of him:

“You can’t play this game with too much emotion, man.”

Regardless, Mack admits there is an added sense of motivation to perform against Oakland.

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“Yeah, you could say I’m suppressing the emotional side of it. But the other side is to go out and make them pay for it.”

Mack's comments are certainly understandable. Players will often try to conceal any potential hostility they may have toward their former teams. However, he acknowledged the challenge of trying to stay focused on the task at hand while making them pay.

Mack certainly has good reason for wanting to get back at the Raiders. Although the game will not be in Oakland, there will still be enough nostalgia going on for the All-Pro. He had been more than deserving of becoming the highest-paid defensive player with them. However, head coach Jon Gruden instead opted to trade him for a slew of picks while saving himself some money.

It is safe to say that Mack has managed to justify the substantial investment the Bears made in him as the central force of their defense. Meanwhile, the Raiders have finally started to show signs of recovering from a disastrous 2018 campaign.