KC Chiefs Discuss Rivalry With, Respect for Raiders DE Maxx Crosby
The Kansas City Chiefs' rivalry with the Las Vegas Raiders will soon be renewed, as the two teams are slated to square off twice in a calendar month. Week 12's matchup is a Sunday afternoon one, and there's plenty on the line for either side.
For Andy Reid's squad, they enter the game with a two-game lead over the 5-5 Denver Broncos in the AFC West. With that said, Las Vegas is 2-1 with interim head coach Antonio Pierce leading the way and last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins was just a one-score difference. At 5-6, their season is surprisingly still very much alive. A win would help the Chiefs quite a bit in their quest for playoff positioning, but it might mean even more to the Raiders as they fight to keep things rolling on their home turf.
The Chiefs have won five consecutive games versus the Raiders, although last season's meeting on Oct. 10 saw them narrowly escape with a 30-29 victory. Given the competitive nature of the 2023 Vegas team and the struggles of the Kansas City offense, this contest could be a hard-fought one. Andy Reid tipped his cap to the Raiders when he spoke to the media on Wednesday, singling out defensive end Maxx Crosby as one of their tone-setters.
“Nothing really has changed with 98," Reid said." He’s still a go-getter, he plays every snap a hundred miles an hour, heck of a football player. But that’s also been contagious I think to the rest of the guys, they’re playing hard and aggressive good downhill football, they’re tackling well, coverages are good, they’re doing a nice job.”
In his age-26 season, Crosby is having perhaps his best year yet. Playing all 11 of the Raiders' games, the former fourth-round pick's 10.5 sacks are tied for fifth in the entire league. Additionally, he leads all EDGE players in Pro Football Focus' pressure database with 63 of them. He's playing some inspired football alongside a bunch of players who are also gritty and looking to prove something.
Crosby has played eight career games against the Chiefs, notching four sacks, nine quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss. He always brings his best effort when facing his bitter division rivals, which naturally leads to some emotions showing themselves on the field. Last season, it was Patrick Mahomes who made headlines for his on-field banter with the two-time Pro Bowler. In an expletive-filled rant featured in Netflix's Quarterback series, the reigning NFL MVP is seen blowing up at Crosby after a touchdown. When asked this week about facing Crosby, Mahomes addressed the dynamic between them.
“I mean, I don’t like playing against him because I know what type of player he is and the mindset that he comes in with, but, yeah," Mahomes said. "I don’t talk a ton of trash. I just try to stay fired up and go out there and win. He’s the same way. He wants to win as much as anybody, and that’s why I have so much respect for him but at the end of the day we’re competing. That’s what competitors do.”
There's a mutual respect between the two, although a lot of that is bound to go to the wayside on Sunday afternoon. Once the cleats are tied up and players get out on the field, it's all business. In a series that has had plenty of memorable moments over the years, Mahomes and Crosby have certainly managed to etch their names into that history book. According to Reid, it's all par for the course.
“They probably both get under each other’s skin," Reid said. "That’s part of the Raiders-Chiefs deal so that’s all healthy.”
