Despite an extremely disappointing season overall, the Las Vegas Raiders have had a couple of bright spots this season. Most notable have been the performances of captain and defensive stalwart Maxx Crosby and rookie tight end Brock Bowers. As such it should come as no surprise that both Crosby and Bowers were named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster.
In terms of pure numbers Crosby had one of his worst statistical seasons, but that was namely due to injuries. The Raiders leader missed the first games of his career due to injury this year and played in just 12 games overall. His season is already over due to ankle surgery and thus, he won’t be able to actually participate in the Pro Bowl, but still will receive the honor of being selected for the fourth consecutive season.
Crosby finished this year with 45 total tackles, 7.5 sacks and five passes defensed. Even more impressive is Crosby’s 17 tackles for loss which still rank third in the NFL heading into the final week of the season while his 20 QB hits rank in the top-15.
Bowers has been arguably the best tight end in football period, firmly establishing himself amongst the elite of his position in his first year. With one more game remaining Bowers has totaled 108 receptions for 1,144 yards and four touchdowns. He is tops among all tight ends in catches and yards with those numbers ranking third and seventh in the NFL period amongst all positions.
But Bowers has enjoyed a truly historical season overall, breaking Mike Ditka’s record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end and Puka Nacua’s rookie record for receptions by any player. Bowers’s receptions is also a Raiders single-season record and quite simply he has been everything this team could ask for, despite a revolving door of quarterbacks.
One unfortunate omission for the Raiders however was linebacker Robert Spillane. With 142 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and seven passes defensed he is more than deserving of a spot and could potentially be brought on as a replacement, but Zaire Franklin of the Indianapolis Colts and Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens were voted in.
Maxx Crosby reiterates desire to win now with Raiders
More important to Maxx Crosby than individual accolades is team success and he has still yet to experience that on a high level with the Raiders. And the Raiders’ leader is more than ready for that to change.
With fellow star defensive end Myles Garrett recently speaking about his desire to win now in Cleveland and plans on talking to their front office this offseason, Crosby echoed those same sentiments about his current position with the Raiders.
Crosby discussed all of the sacrifices he has made and what he puts his body through. The Raiders star lamented all of the changes and inconsistencies and, like Garrett, is looking forward to talking to the front office this offseason for clarity on the franchise’s plans to make this team a contender in the future.
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