If you live in the box score, Maxx Crosby's stat isn't going to impress you. He put up one tackle and one QB hit. But his impact was felt in other ways that simply don't show up in the stats.
In this case, it was penalties. Chargers Joe Alt was flagged four times in the game. All of them were caused by the presence of Crosby.
“For me, everything matters, you know what I mean?" said Maxx after the game. "Run game pass game, forcing penalties, getting pressures, things like that. So whatever it takes to help get the offense off rhythm and out of sorts and pushing them back behind the sticks, that's what I do. That's what I want to do for our team, and that's why they put me in those situations so I can go take care of business."
That on QB hit came
in the first quarter. It came on third and three, leading to an incompletion. Leading to a 58-yard field goal attempt the missed off the right upright. And Crosby's tackle came at the end of the first quarter.
Two plays later, with the Chargers in third and five from their own six-yard-line, Alt jumped early. Crosby saw it and came off the line to draw the flag. That led to third and eight from their own three. Then Alt jumped AGAIN. A three-yard run on third and nine and the Chargers were punting out of the back of their own end zone.
With the field position off of that punt, the Raiders drove for the first score of the game on a 40-yard touchdown to Tre Tucker.
Come the fourth quarter, it was still anyone's game. Another Alt false start takes the Chargers from second and ten to second and 15. That ultimately led to a third and long and a sack.
It was a takeaway by the defense that set up a touchdown that put the game out of reach. But it was Maxx Crosby beating Alt in the end zone, causing Alt to be flagged for holding that put the nail in the coffin. The penalty in the end zone meant a safety and a kick back to the Raiders to kneel it out.
"I have a lot of respect for Joe Alt, he's a hell of a player," Crosby continued. "We've had some battles for sure. And we're gonna keep doing it for years to come. It was awesome getting to compete and help my team win.”
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 'That's what I do': Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby controls Alt, deletes Chargers
