The Las Vegas Raiders rolled into Sunday’s matchup with a 2-11 record and the daunting task of facing the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Add in the fact that Kenny Pickett was making his first start for the Raiders-against his former team, no less-and it was clear this wasn’t shaping up to be a feel-good story for Vegas.
And for most of the game, it wasn’t. The Eagles came out swinging, building a 17-0 lead by halftime and stretching it to 24-0 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Raiders offense struggled to find any rhythm, with Pickett managing just 70 passing yards and throwing an interception through three quarters. Explosive plays were few and far between.
But amid the offensive struggles, one bright spot continued to shine-Maxx Crosby.
The Raiders star edge rusher quietly etched his name into the record books yet again, continuing a season that’s been nothing short of dominant, even if it’s happening on a team that’s fallen far short of expectations.
Crosby recorded his 26th tackle for loss of the season, pushing him past Rams legend Aaron Donald (25) for the sixth-most tackles for loss in a single season by a defensive lineman since 2000. That’s no small feat. To put it in perspective: we’re talking about surpassing one of the most disruptive forces the league has seen in the last two decades.
And Crosby wasn’t done there. He also added a sack before the fourth quarter, giving him 10 on the year. That mark puts him in elite company-he now has four seasons with double-digit sacks, tying Haason Reddick and Trey Hendrickson for the fifth-most such seasons since 2019.
What’s impressive about Crosby’s production is the consistency. Week after week, regardless of the scoreboard or the record, he’s been a relentless force off the edge.
Whether it’s collapsing the pocket, setting the edge in the run game, or simply outworking the man in front of him, Crosby’s motor doesn’t stop. And in a season where little has gone right for the Raiders, his performance has been a rare constant.
So yes, the Raiders are limping through a tough year. But Maxx Crosby? He’s still playing like a man with something to prove-and he’s proving it every Sunday.