Las Vegas Raiders edge defender Maxx Crosby and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes are two of the best players at their respective positions. While Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time NFL MVP, Crosby made four Pro Bowls during his six years in the league while recording a combined 59.5 sacks. Recently, the pass rusher appeared on the Glory Daze podcast and talked about how competitive he gets whenever he faces off against his division rival.

“Me and Pat (Patrick Mahomes) have had a very healthy rivalry for years now; I take a lot of pride in that,” Crosby said. “He’s the best of the best, and I view myself as the best of the best. So every time you put two competitors out there, you know, I’m trying to literally kill him every play, and he’s trying to make plays every time.”

This sounds extreme, but Maxx Crosby later clarified that he and Patrick Mahomes have nothing but respect for each other.

That’s a matchup I look forward to every time. He’s a f*** dog, and yeah, just when we’re out there, we know what time it is. Like, we have ultimate respect, ” Crosby said. “Hug his kids after the game, dap it up, we talk. But when we’re in between the lines, it’s war. And that’s what it’s all about.”

Patrick Mahomes has been on the winning side of this war, recording a 10-2 record against the Raiders since Maxx Crosby entered the league. However, Vegas could put up more of a fight in 2025. Now led by a proven head coach in Pete Carroll and a solid starter in Geno Smith, this should be the most talented Raiders team since Crosby entered the league.