The challenging divisional competition poses a significant obstacle for the Las Vegas Raiders, particularly due to the presence of exceptional quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers. Defensive pressure becomes paramount against such elite talents, as allowing them space can lead to devastating outcomes for the defense. This strategy is underscored by Raiders defensive standout Maxx Crosby, who emphasized the importance of relentless pressure on quarterbacks like Mahomes and Herbert during an appearance on the ‘Games with Names’ podcast with Julian Edelman. Crosby stressed the necessity of keeping constant pressure on these quarterbacks to disrupt their rhythm and prevent them from making big plays.
While this defensive approach may not be groundbreaking, its effectiveness against top-tier quarterbacks like Mahomes and Herbert cannot be overstated. Crosby’s assertion aligns with Raiders coach Antonio Pierce’s earlier comments about implementing aggressive defensive tactics, akin to the ‘Jordan Rules’, against Mahomes. Consistently applying pressure and disrupting the comfort of elite quarterbacks can force errors and create favorable opportunities for the Raiders, as demonstrated by their successful implementation of this strategy in a late-season victory against the Chiefs.
Looking ahead, Crosby anticipates the challenge of facing top quarterbacks, but it’s not just him eagerly awaiting these matchups. Derek Carr, now with the New Orleans Saints after spending the majority of his career with the Raiders, is also excited about facing his former team and specifically mentions looking forward to going up against Crosby and the Raiders’ defense. In a light-hearted remark, Carr jokingly expresses his desire to instigate a confrontation with Crosby, perhaps indicating the competitive spirit that will be present when the two teams meet.
