Preparing to take on the Raiders means your offense needs to plan for how much Maxx Crosby will disrupt the game plan. He's one of the league's best pass rushers for a reason, and he'll be motivated to do damage when the Raiders face the Patriots on Sunday.
Although he has walked back some of his earliest negative comments about Josh McDaniels' failed tenure as head coach in Las Vegas, it's probably fair to assume there's still a bit of a grudge in him that will fuel a big-time performance this weekend.
On top of that, rumors continue to suggest that the Raiders might try to trade him again before the deadline in a few weeks, so a good performance will only make that decision more difficult for his current team, while also sparking more interest from those in need of pass rush help this season.
One of those teams is arguably the Patriots, who were linked to Crosby during the offseason until he was traded to the Ravens. As we know, they rescinded the trade and sent him back to the AFC West, citing concerns about an apparent leg injury, yet the defensive end has looked stellar through four games so far, putting injury concerns to rest.
If he plays well against the Patriots, which seems likely given he's spent nearly 80% of his time on the field on the right side, meaning he will line up against Ben Brown and Morgan Moses, then there's a chance it could reignite their interest in making an offer.
Another standout performance from Maxx Crosby could interest the Patriots
Because they're currently relying on young and developing players to be their sole pass rushers, rookie Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder, on top of hoping veteran Dre'Mont Jones will have the best season of his career in that area, it doesn't seem outlandish to believe they might be interested in trading for a player like Crosby.
Piquing their interest even more is the limited information about Harold Landry, who was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list this summer, with no details on his return timeline.
That has created a void on their defensive line, and while Jacas and Ponder have had some impressive moments, the pass rush hasn't been consistent enough for the team to feel fully comfortable with the current group for the rest of the season.
That makes Crosby a bit more intriguing, even if it would cost everything and the kitchen sink to get the deal done.
Of course, that could easily rule out the Patriots as serious contenders to land the 5-time Pro Bowler, and maybe that's the right decision. However, seeing him up close and personal on Sunday could change their minds or, at the very least, force them to call the Raiders' front office to get a sense of what they might want in a trade.
At this point, they have nothing to lose, and it doesn't look like Crosby is dealing with any lingering injury that has affected his typical performance, which is even better news.
At the very least, inquiring shows they're doing their due diligence and exploring all options to upgrade the roster and improve their chances of going far this season and in years to come, which is exactly what Patriots fans want to see.
Because their pass rush is a bit more vulnerable, acknowledging they're working to improve it while also making it clear they like who they have now would send a strong message about their plans for the team's future, something fans have complained about this offseason.
So maybe Crosby can add another team to his list of potential suitors if the Raiders decide they do want to trade him again.
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