Lions Tasked With Stopping ‘Disruptive’ Maxx Crosby

The Lions will face the league's leader in pressures Monday.

When the Detroit Lions take the field against the Las Vegas Raiders Monday night, plenty of attention will be paid to one particular member of the opposing defense. 

Maxx Crosby has quickly emerged as one of the league's premier pass rushers. The 26-year-old currently leads the league in pressures with 43, coincidentally one ahead of Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson. 

The Lions offense is anticipating a major challenge from the opposing edge rusher. Dan Campbell noted that Crosby will be the most active and disruptive defender that Jared Goff and the offense will face up to this point in 2023. 

"What does he not do well? I would start there. I don't know, I don't know what that would be. He's very active, he's slithery, he can bend, he's explosive, quick first step. He's very crafty, man, he's a master of his craft," Campbell said. "His hands, his bend and then his motor, he just doesn't quit. He's disruptive in the run game and the pass game is not only what you see off the edge or his ability to pressure the quarterback, it's getting the football out too. It's one thing to get a sack on a guy, but he's getting the ball out if he gets around the horn. So this will be a big challenge for our O-line in general, because this guy moves around, man."

Campbell noted that the Raiders will move Crosby around the defensive formation. As a result, each member of Detroit's offensive line must be prepared for the threat that the Eastern Michigan product poses.

"He's not gonna just be left, he's not gonna be right, third down they're gonna move him around. All of them gotta be ready for him," Campbell explained. "But more times than not, he'll be on Sewell and Decker and those guys are up for the challenge. That makes you feel a ton better knowing the guys that we've got. This is gonna be a war, now, this is the most disruptive player we've played all year to this point, so we've got to be ready." 

Odds Lions Beat Raiders in Week 8

The Lions offensive line is eager to get back in action after surrendering five sacks against Baltimore last week. Against the Raiders, defending Crosby and company will be no easy task. 

Still, the unit is anticipating a bounce-back performance in front of the national audience. 

"The unfortunate part is we have to wait until Monday night to play again," said offensive line coach Hank Fraley. "I told the guys I just hate losing as a player and as a coach. I hate waiting that long to play. It would have been better to have a short week this week on Thursday just to get out of your mouth that taste.

"We have to learn from (last week), not just as a unit but as a whole team," Fraley continued. "Why we got in the hole we did and how can we learn from it and how can we ease back that momentum and get back going again."

Notes

Campbell wished wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. luck as he departs from the team to deal with a personal matter. The coach noted that the veteran was a true professional and added that the team will move on and feels good about what it has at the position.