The Las Vegas Raiders have been toiled in mediocrity for several seasons now, but what’s made the past few years even more frustrating for fans is seeing their division rivals the Kansas City Chiefs achieve so much success in the same timeframe.
The Chiefs have managed to win two Super Bowls this decade, an amazing accomplishment for their organization but a stark reminder of just how much further the Raiders have to go before they’re relevant again. Kansas City was blessed to have Patrick Mahomes fall into their laps during the 2017 NFL Draft as he’s already proven to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history.
While Mahomes has made the Chiefs a perennial Super Bowl contender, the Raiders have been scrambling to field a roster that can compete at the highest levels. Las Vegas retooled their roster this offseason, but even then the team is not expected to be on the same tier as Kansas City.
Maxx Crosby is one of the lone bright spots the Raiders can hang their hat on, but even the star defensive end couldn’t help but express his respect for Mahomes via his Twitter account:
Ultimate Competition. Ultimate Respect. Loading… @PatrickMahomes pic.twitter.com/apSnCpcUc4
— MaddMaxx (@CrosbyMaxx) July 13, 2023
Crosby’s words for Mahomes come on the heels of the release of Netflix’s ‘Quarterback’, a docuseries that followed Kirk Cousins, Marcus Mariota and Mahomes during the 2022 season. In the program, there is a scene where Mahomes and Crosby are seen trash-talking each other and getting into each other’s faces. That type of interaction is normal on the field, though it was even more heated, considering the two teams are battling it out in the same division.
Ultimately, though, Crosby said his relationship with Mahomes is great off the field and that’s typical of players who compete against one another so frequently. The two stars are a couple of the most fun and exciting to watch at their respective positions and it’ll be a treat for fans to see them square off again next season.
Maxx Crosby explains difference in mindset when pass rushing
Since being drafted in 2019, Crosby has managed to steadily improve each and every year. As a younger player, Crosby flashed serious athleticism and grit, though his technique left much to be desired.
However, the Pro Bowler has worked hard on his fundamentals but also explained how a shift in his mindset has led to more pass-rushing success.