Maxx Crosby’s Fire Boils Over in Frustrating Raiders Season, But Respect Remains Intact
The 2025 season hasn’t just gone off the rails for the Las Vegas Raiders - it feels like the train never left the station. A 2-10 record, a playoff picture that’s already in the rearview mirror, and a team that looks more lost than ever despite another offseason of optimism. For a franchise that’s been searching for stability for years, this year’s collapse hits especially hard.
And for players like Maxx Crosby - the heart and soul of the Silver and Black - the frustration is palpable. Crosby’s been through the highs and lows in Vegas, but this season feels like a breaking point. The Raiders are staring down another top draft pick, and the tension is starting to show on the field.
That frustration bubbled over in Week 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Late in the fourth quarter, with the game slipping away, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert converted a crucial third down and let Crosby know about it - loudly.
As Herbert screamed in Crosby’s ear, the Raiders’ star edge rusher gave him a shove. Herbert hit the turf, the flag came out, and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty all but sealed the Raiders’ fate.
Crosby: “If You're Gonna Talk, Talk” - But Don’t Flop
Herbert and Chargers safety Derwin James downplayed the incident after the game, but Crosby didn’t shy away from addressing it on his podcast. And he made it clear: his issue wasn’t with the trash talk - it was with the flop.
“Yeah, (quarterbacks) are going to get special treatment when it comes to that type of stuff,” Crosby said. “If it was a lineman and he flopped like that, they probably wouldn’t call it.”
Crosby explained that as he was jogging away, Herbert intentionally screamed in his ear with no one else around - a clear attempt to provoke. Crosby’s response?
A “love tap,” as he called it. But the way Herbert went down drew the flag.
“He flopped like crazy,” Crosby said. “He did a good job. I shouldn’t have even reacted in general, so that’s on me, but I respect him, bro.”
That’s classic Crosby - fiery, honest, and self-aware. He owns the mistake, admits it hurt the team, but stands by his belief that the reaction was exaggerated. And in a season where little has gone right for the Raiders, it’s not hard to understand why emotions are running high.
No Regrets, Just Respect
What stands out most in the aftermath isn’t the penalty, or even the shove - it’s the respect Crosby still commands across the league. Despite the incident, there was no retaliation from the Chargers’ offensive line - a rarity when a quarterback gets hit after the whistle. That silence speaks volumes.
Crosby’s earned that respect the hard way. He plays with relentless energy, puts his body on the line every week, and never takes a snap off.
And for all his intensity, he’s never been labeled dirty or cheap. Opponents know he’s coming - they just know he’s doing it the right way.
Even Herbert and James, the two Chargers closest to the moment, didn’t take shots at Crosby after the game. That mutual respect between competitors is part of what makes the NFL great. Tempers flare, emotions spill over, but at the end of the day, players like Crosby are built on toughness and accountability.
A Frustrating Season, But the Fire Still Burns
The Raiders’ season may be spiraling, but Maxx Crosby remains a bright spot - not just for his production, but for the passion he brings to a team desperately in need of identity. His shove may have drawn a flag, but it also reminded everyone that he still cares. Deeply.
And while Crosby admits he should’ve kept his cool, there’s no mistaking the message: he’s not going to back down, especially when the game - and the season - feels like it’s slipping away.
In a season full of low points, Crosby’s fire is still burning. And for the Raiders, that’s something to build on - even if the wins aren’t coming just yet.