ALAMEDA, Calif. -- A mutual admiration sack society may be forming in the AFC West that spans from Oakland to San Diego and maybe, just maybe, will stretch from Las Vegas to Los Angeles in the near future.

In his third season with the Raiders, Khalil Mack already is an All-Pro at two positions -- defensive end and outside linebacker -- and Chargers rookie Joey Bosa is on the rise as a 3-4 defensive end. It’s a young rivalry that would survive potential relocation for both franchises, given their relative youth.

And yes, they respect each other’s game.

Khalil Mack, who has a strip-sack in three straight games, is riding an eight-game streak with at least one sack. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“He’s just a freak of nature, just so quick and twitchy the way he moves,” Bosa, who has 6.5 sacks in nine games, said of Mack this week.

“I think we’re pretty different players when it comes to our pass-rushing technique and how we go about it. I always love watching other great players. Of course, any little thing I can pick up off his game is good.”

Mack, meanwhile, likes what he sees out of Bosa, who held out of training camp as the No. 3 overall draft pick out of Ohio State and missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury.

“Hell of a young player,” Mack said. “You see the things he does and the way he affects the game, hell of a player. Watching film of him and you can tell that he has a knack for the ball.”

As does Mack, who has a strip-sack in three straight games and is riding an eight-game streak with at least one sack.

Per ESPN Stats & Information, no player has recorded a sack in nine consecutive games within the same season since sacks became an official stat in 1982. DeMarcus Ware and Simon Fletcher had 10-game sack streaks, but they stretched over two seasons, 2007-08 and 1992-93, respectively, as did the nine-gamers turned in by Dwight Freeney (2008-09), Kevin Greene (1997-98) and Bruce Smith (1986-87).

ESPN Stats & Information

Mack says his ability to get to the quarterback is merely a matter of pass rush and coverage working hand in hand.

But after a slow start in which he had one sack in his first five games, including getting shut out by the Chargers in Oakland on Oct. 9, Mack has been wrecking games of late.

Pro Football Focus had him leading the NFL with 72 total QB pressures after he had five on 27 pass-rush attempts in the Raiders’ 21-13 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs last week.

Mack should have more shots at Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers with San Diego’s banged-up offensive line and Rivers' declaration earlier this season that he wanted to take deep shots against the Raiders.

“We pride ourselves on that, not letting guys throw the ball over the top,” Mack said. “We’ve given up a few here and there, but it’s all about getting better. Learning from your mistakes and learning from the week before, the game before.”

Indeed, Oakland’s defense has improved as well, moving from the 32nd and last-ranked total defense in the league to No. 30. Not a huge leap by any stretch, but the unit is getting stops late in games.

“We’re making strides, man,” Mack said. “We’re making strides. I wouldn’t say ‘proud.’ But we’re making strides. Just looking forward to this next challenge.”

As in, win and they’re in.

If the Raiders (10-3) beat the Chargers (5-8) at Qualcomm Stadium, they will clinch their first playoff spot since 2002, which ended with a Super Bowl loss at ... Qualcomm Stadium.

“It’s always in your mind, because that’s the goal -- you want to definitely be in the playoffs,” Mack said. “But at the same time, it’s not easy to do. It’s no easy task, and the challenge is to go out and try to clinch that, by any means.”

Bosa surely would agree with that sentiment.