Sean Payton Kills Raiders Pro Bowl DE With Kindness Ahead of Week 1

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is coming off a big year — a career season. In his fourth year, Crosby totaled 12.5 sacks and 89 tackles (58 solo) on the way to his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod.

32% of Crosby's sacks came in just two games vs. the Denver Broncos. Indeed, he's built a career out of sacking Broncos quarterbacks, and head coach Sean Payton showered his opponent with praise by pinpointing the traits that allow Crosby to feast.

“He’s really flexible," Payton said on Monday. "He’s a tremendous worker, athletic. He’s got one of those motors that doesn’t stop, and he can get to your edge quickly. His ability to bend and then his stamina are things that stand out.”

What happens next for the Broncos? Don't miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our free newsletter and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

Crosby's first-ever NFL game was against the Broncos in Week 1 of the 2019 season. It was the only game vs. Denver that he didn't hang at least one QB skin on the wall.

In eight career games vs. the Broncos, Crosby has totaled 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. It's insane production. As an AFC West opponent, the Broncos are supposed to be one of the NFL foes that know the Raiders, and Crosby, best.

And yet, the Broncos have been almost helpless against him. Despite offensive game plans being structured to neutralize him, Crosby has owned the Broncos.

That was then. This is now.

Great players are almost always going to get theirs. They'll find a way to make an impact. Sometimes, all an opponent can do in the face of greatness is limit its exposure to the threat.

When that's a cornerback, like, say, Patrick Surtain II, it's quite easy for an opponent to scheme him out of the game. Just don't throw it in his direction, and odds are, you'll come out okay.

In the case of an edge defender who is always close to the ball, it's not so easy, as he's involved in every snap in some way due to his proximity to the line of scrimmage. The solution to neutralizing Crosby is counter-intuitive.

Instead of running away from him and slanting the protections on passing plays away from him, Payton should run the ball right at him —just like the savviest QBs are coached to throw into the blitz. More often than not, on passing downs, Crosby will have to contend with a new Broncos right tackle in Mike McGlinchey.

Time will tell how that matchup plays out, but when in doubt, Payton will likely give McGlinchey help by deploying a tight end or running back to either double-team or chip Crosby. As Payton intimated, Crosby's motor is what sets him apart. That, and his football IQ. He plays the game within the game, striving to get into the heads of opposing QBs and linemen.

But in the face of the threat Crosby presents the Broncos, the best approach is to use his motor against him, hit him with overwhelming force by running the rock right at him, and chipping him 'til the cows come home. Throw in a well-timed play-fake to exploit that motor, and voilà!

The best-laid plans of the previous coaching regimes in Denver didn't work on Crosby. In retrospect, those coaches were so overwhelmed in the meta sense, and floundering in the deep end, that they couldn't clearly see the life preserver within arm's reach.

Payton, on the other hand, is an expert deep-water swimmer. The game slowed down for him a long time ago.

Expect the Broncos' head coach to try something new to keep the Raiders' Pro Bowler on his heels. Ending Vegas' six-game winning streak over the Broncos starts by scheming Crosby out of the game, and limiting running back Josh Jacobs.

Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.

Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!