5 bold predictions for Raiders against Eagles

1. Maxx Crosby will continue to eat as the Raiders’ breakout star on defense

No, Maxx Crosby is not going to have three sacks like he did in Week 6 at the Broncos. However, he is an emerging breakout star on this Raiders defense. With Gus Bradley settling into his own as a defensive play-caller, it is putting big-time players like Crosby in position to succeed. Crosby has always had a high motor coming out of Eastern Michigan, but what he just did was next level.

To more than double one’s sack total at this stage of the season is impressive, especially when one is already halfway there to 10 on the campaign. Barring injury, Crosby will hit that personal milestone long before we open presents on Christmas. The question going forward is how many sacks could he have going forward. 10? 12? A baker’s dozen? How about two more after Sunday?

With Hurts still in flux as an NFL passer and more than willing to make plays with his legs, this parlays very nicely in Crosby’s ability to get multiple sacks. One might be of Hurts taking too long to deliver a strike downfield from the pocket. As for the other, this will be an all-out effort play to get Hurts while he is scrambling for his life on a busted play that was doomed from the very start.

Do not be shocked if Crosby is averaging a sack per game by the end of this Week 7 contest.