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Reasonable expectations for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 Week 1

By Micah McDonald

Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) warms up before the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) warms up before the AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 14: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 and defensive end Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders bump fists after participating in a coin toss before the team’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated Vikings the 26-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 14: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 and defensive end Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders bump fists after participating in a coin toss before the team’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated Vikings the 26-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Reasonable expectations for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022 Week 1

Maxx Crosby gets his first sack

Maxx Crosby has been arguably the best diamond in the rough in recent draft memory for the Raiders. As a rookie out of Eastern Michigan University drafted in the fourth round, Crosby came out hot with 10 sacks in the 2019 season.

Last year we saw him improve his all-around game drastically and fine-tune his skills. Though he only put up 8 sacks in 2021, a lot of his other stats took a huge bump that ultimately earned him a 2nd team All-Pro award and his first Pro Bowl appearance.

We saw his quarterback knockdowns almost triple, a career-high in pressures, and his missed tackle percentage at an astonishingly low 5.1%.

Jump ahead one year and he now gets to lineup opposite side of fellow 2021 Pro Bowler Chandler Jones. Jones put up 10.5 sacks last year and is undoubtedly the best talent Crosby has had the opportunity to team up with. The duo will be a tough matchup for any offensive line this year and has projected to be one of the more dangerous duos in the NFL.

Anyone who watched the week 18 matchup against the Chargers knows Maxx Crosby had his way with their offensive line. Though he doesn’t have the luxury of lining up in front of Storm Norton again, he does have the luxury of better talent alongside him on the defensive line.

The Chargers are going to have to get the ball out quick if they’re going to spell the pass rush of Crosby and Jones. I do believe though that the Condor will get to quarterback Justin Herbert at some point in the game and record his first sack of the season.

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