JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Yannick Ngakoue has a knack for the strip-sack, an innate ability to knock balls out of the hands of quarterbacks.

The Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end has 11 forced fumbles in two seasons, including a momentum-turning one in a victory at Pittsburgh last week. Ngakoue led the NFL with six forced fumbles during the regular season to go along with 12 sacks, and could pose significant problems for the New England Patriots (14-3) in the AFC championship game Sunday.

If so, he might even get the recognition he feels he deserves.

A third-round draft pick from Maryland in 2016, Ngakoue has been somewhat overshadowed with the Jaguars (12-6). Those perceived slights keep him motivated and define him like no one else in Jacksonville’s locker room.

“Those scouts who passed me up and didn’t think I was good enough probably feel stupid right now,” Ngakoue said Wednesday.

The Jaguars feel fortunate to have him.

Although cornerback Jalen Ramsey , defensive end Calais Campbell and linebacker Telvin Smith have garnered more accolades than Ngakoue, it would be easy to argue that the pass-rushing specialist is as important to one of the league’s top defenses as anyone.

Ngakoue has been involved in five of the eight touchdowns scored by Jacksonville’s defense this season. Four of his strip-sacks went for touchdowns.