The Las Vegas Raiders felt like a team on the rise heading into the 2022 season, and it was easy to see why with the talent they had on the roster.
The Raiders brought in a new head coach in Josh McDaniels, as well as a star wideout in Davante Adams, to help bolster an offense led by Derek Carr. However, the infusion of talent did not bear the results the organization and its fans were hoping for, as they are 6-8 and currently on the outside looking in at the playoff standings.
There is a bevy of reasons why Las Vegas is in the position it’s in today, but that shouldn’t take away from some of the bright spots on the team. One player fans should feel excited about is Maxx Crosby, who’s turned himself into one of the best defensive ends in the NFL today.
Crosby has helped carry the Raiders defense, and his efforts landed him on this year’s 2023 Pro Bowl roster. It’s the second consecutive Pro Bowl nod for Crosby, and he expressed his gratitude for the selection via his Twitter account:
Back To Back… Wouldn’t Be Possible Without My Teammates, Coaches, Fans, And Support Circle. Got Work To Do… #1 🦅🖤 pic.twitter.com/BrSWZNFmb3
— 🦅MaddMaxx🦅 (@CrosbyMaxx) December 22, 2022
Crosby isn’t the only member of the Silver and Black playing in the Pro Bowl, as Josh Jacobs and Adams will join him. Jacobs and Adams have been the heartbeat of the team’s offense, while Crosby has turned around the Raider pass rush.
The defensive end will be a starter for the AFC team this year, and it’s well-deserved as he currently leads the league in tackles for loss (19) and solo tackles among his position (51). He’s also recorded 11.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hits, impressive numbers all across the board. In Crosby’s first Pro Bowl appearance, he was named the Defensive MVP of the game.
Las Vegas recently saw a slew of draft picks be released, so it’s encouraging to see someone like Crosby stick around. All the turnover in the past couple of years has hurt the Raiders when it comes to roster building, so having a cornerstone piece in Crosby makes things a lot easier going forward.
While it’ll be fun to see Crosby do his thing in the upcoming Pro Bowl game, he and the rest of the defense will need to step their collective game up if they hope to keep the Raiders’ postseason hopes alive.
