

Since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018, he and the Chiefs have dominated the AFC, reaching the championship game every season. In 2017, the year he was drafted, he only played in the last regular-season game, a win against the Broncos, because the Chiefs had already secured their playoff spot. Mahomes threw for 284 yards in that game, the second-most by a rookie in Chiefs history. It was clear from that lone game that Mahomes would be a great quarterback, but he has exceeded expectations by reaching five Super Bowls and winning three in seven years.
The AFC West rivals have suffered the most since Mahomes’ arrival, having witnessed firsthand how the Chiefs win their division every year. The Chiefs’ nine consecutive division titles are the second-longest streak in NFL history, behind only the Patriots’ 11. Mahomes’s impressive 35-5 record (87.5%) against division rivals the Chargers, Broncos, and Raiders means these teams can only secure a playoff spot via the wild card. The Chargers are the only one of the three to win a playoff game since then.
Maxx Crosby’s Battle Against Mahomes and the Chiefs’ Dominance
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby is a player who has lived through Mahomes’ dominance his entire career. Drafted in 2019, Crosby has made the All-Pro team for the last four years in a row. Last year, Crosby’s season ended in Week 12 due to injury. Now fully healthy, he’s ready to help the Raiders reach the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, leading the defense with a new offense and coach. In an interview with Johnny Manziel on his podcast, the Raiders’ defensive leader was brutally honest about facing Mahomes twice a year. He didn’t hold back when describing how he approaches these divisional games against the team to beat in the AFC.
I love playing them, and you know, me and Pat have had a very healthy rivalry for years now. That’s another thing-like, I take a lot of pride in that too. I view myself as the best of the best. So every time you put two competitors out there… I’m trying to literally kill him every play.
As a defender facing an all-time great entering his prime who will turn 30 next season, that’s the only mentality you should have. I expect at least one Crosby sack in this year’s matchups (Weeks 7 and 18), in his short but great career Crosby has 59.5 sacks and 366 tackles with 105 being for loss. However, even with their new team-including head coach Pete Carroll, quarterback Geno Smith, and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty-it will be a long road for the Raiders, mainly due to their defense, which is the team’s weakest link.
Crosby’s the Raiders’ Uphill Battle
Crosby will begin his three-year, $106.5 million contract with the Raiders this season, which is why he is eager to change the team’s recent history of failure. Over the past 22 years, the Raiders have had just two winning seasons and two playoff berths. They have also had three straight losing seasons. More notably, they’ve won five or fewer games in 12 of those 22 seasons. With Crosby as the team leader, the goal should be to have at least a winning season.
However, this season’s NFL schedule doesn’t cut them any slack. In the first month, they kick off in New England against Mike Vrabel’s retooled Patriots and then face their division rivals, the Chargers, in a Monday night home opener. In Week 3, they travel to Washington to face Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. In Week 4, they host the Bears. They could start September 0-4 or 2-2 if the offense clicks from the beginning and the defense can handle these potent, young offenses.
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