Maxx Crosby continues to show his growing potential in win over Bengals

Collectively, the Oakland Raiders struggled to get things brewing against the Cincinnati Bengals, but rookie defensive end Maxx Crosby took matters into his own hands.

Maxx Crosby entered Sunday’s week 11 game against the Bengals with 2.5 sacks in his rookie season with the Oakland Raiders. During the Raiders 17-10 win over Cincinnati, Crosby finished his stellar performance with four sacks and five tackles, a stat-line indicative of a first round pick, not a fourth-rounder.

His four-sack outing is tied for the second-most in NFL history by a rookie in a single game. He also put himself in the Raiders’ record books, as his 6.5 sacks on the season are the most in franchise history through a player’s first ten career games

For the majority of the season, the Raiders have been led by their new-look offense. While the offense had scored 24-plus points in every game since Week 4, Sunday’s week 11 game was much more reliant on the defense, and they answered the call.

The Oakland defense still had its moments in struggling to stop the Bengals offensive attack, as they allowed Cincinnati to rush for 173 yards, but ultimately found ways to force timely stops and turnovers.

Crosby was a headache for the Bengals offensive tackles all game, and Paul Guenther kept them on their toes — moving his fourth-round pick to rush off both the left and right end.

He recorded ten pressures last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, with only half a sack in the books, but with more snaps under his belt through his first ten games, Crosby is starting to see more results on the stat sheet.

“I just tried to mix it up all game,” Crosby told reporters after Sunday’s game. “Keep him on his toes and it worked out. I prepared all week like I always do. I came ready to play just like everyone else on the team.”

During the summer, when Mike Mayock discussed his excitement for the former Eastern Michigan defender he alluded to the high motor that he brings off the edge. In recent weeks, Crosby has displayed exactly that, using both, a speed and a bull rush to fight his way into the backfield.

With Crosby stacking a handful of solid outing, he’s certainly thrown his name into consideration for defensive rookie of the year. While he’s likely still to trail the 49ers’ defensive end Nick Bosa for the award, he’s definitely closed the gap over the last couple of weeks.

The defensive end position was once looked at as the Raiders largest glaring need on the roster, but with recent success taking place, it’s now shaping up to be a potential strength of the defense moving forward.