Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders’ pivotal Week 15 win over the Houston Texans didn’t just keep their playoff hopes alive—it earned one of their defensive leaders a prestigious honor: defensive end Maxx Crosby was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, marking the second time in his career he’s claimed the award. Crosby’s dominant performance—3 sacks, 5 tackles (2 for loss), 4 quarterback pressures, and a game-sealing forced fumble—played a decisive role in the Raiders’ 27-20 victory, cementing his status as one of the NFL’s most disruptive edge rushers. Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders explores the standout moments of Crosby’s award-winning game, the context of his season-long excellence, and how this recognition fuels both the player and the team as they push for a playoff spot. For a Raiders defense that has emerged as a strength in 2025, Crosby’s honor is a testament to individual brilliance and collective growth.

Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders begins with a breakdown of Crosby’s masterclass against the Texans. The game was a back-and-forth battle until the fourth quarter, when Crosby took over: with the Raiders trailing 20-17 and the Texans driving for a potential game-winning score, he sacked quarterback C.J. Stroud on third-and-8, forcing a punt that set up the Raiders’ go-ahead touchdown. Just two minutes later, Crosby stripped Stroud of the football after a 5-yard scramble, with defensive tackle Bilal Nichols recovering the fumble to seal the win. His third sack came on the Texans’ final drive, a relentless rush that saw him beat left tackle Tytus Howard with a speed move to drop Stroud for a 10-yard loss. “Maxx’s performance was one of the best I’ve ever seen from a defensive end,” Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said in a post-game press conference. “He didn’t just make plays—he made the big plays when we needed them most. That’s what separates great players from good ones.” Crosby’s three sacks tied his career high, and he became just the third Raiders player since 2010 to record 3 sacks and a forced fumble in a single game.

A key context to Crosby’s award, highlighted in Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders, is his consistency throughout the 2025 season—making this weekly honor a culmination of months of dominance. Entering Week 15, Crosby ranked fourth in the NFL with 13 sacks, and he’s the only player in the league to record at least one sack in 9 of 15 games. What sets his season apart is his ability to impact games beyond sacks: he leads the Raiders with 38 quarterback pressures, 11 tackles for loss, and 3 forced fumbles, and Pro Football Focus has him graded as the NFL’s third-best edge rusher (90.2 overall grade). Teammates credit his work ethic as the driving force behind his success: Crosby is known for arriving at the facility at 5:30 a.m. for film study and staying late for extra pass-rushing drills. “Maxx doesn’t just show up to play—he shows up to dominate,” defensive tackle Adam Butler said. “He pushes all of us to be better, whether it’s in practice or in games. This award is well-deserved, but it’s not a surprise to anyone in this locker room.”

Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders also delves into the reaction from the Raiders organization and fan base, which rallied around Crosby’s achievement. The team announced the award via social media with a highlight reel of his Week 15 plays, which garnered over 700,000 views and 50,000 likes within 12 hours. At Allegiant Stadium during the team’s Week 16 practice, fans held up signs reading “Maxx for DPOY” and chanted his name as he walked onto the field. The Raiders’ front office also honored Crosby with a custom trophy during a team meeting, and general manager Trent Baalke emphasized his importance to the franchise. For the Las Vegas Raiders, Crosby’s award isn’t just individual recognition—it’s a boost for the entire team as they enter the final stretch of the season. “Maxx is the heart and soul of our defense,” Baalke said. “When he gets honored like this, it lifts everyone’s spirits. It’s a reminder that hard work pays off, and it motivates us all to keep pushing for the playoffs.”

Another layer of Crosby’s award, explored in Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders, is its impact on the Raiders’ defensive scheme and team dynamics. Crosby’s ability to command double teams from opposing offensive lines has opened up opportunities for his teammates: Nichols has career-high 8 sacks this season, largely because teams are forced to shift extra blockers to Crosby. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has designed blitz packages that leverage Crosby’s presence, using him as a decoy to free up linebackers and safeties for pressures. “Maxx makes our entire defense better,” Graham said. “When teams have to plan their entire game around stopping one player, it creates gaps for everyone else. This award is a recognition of his individual talent, but it’s also a testament to how he makes his teammates better.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, Crosby’s dominance has turned their defense from a liability into a strength—they rank 8th in the NFL in total defense (315 yards per game) after finishing 22nd in 2024. “We used to be known for our offense, but now we’re a team that can stop people too,” safety Tre’von Moehrig said. “A big part of that is Maxx—he’s changed the culture of our defense.”

Looking ahead, Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders examines how this honor positions Crosby as a top candidate for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. With three games left in the regular season, Crosby is on pace for 17 sacks, which would tie the Raiders’ single-season record set by Howie Long in 1983. He currently trails only T.J. Watt (15 sacks) and Myles Garrett (14.5 sacks) in the DPOY race, and his Week 15 performance has drawn praise from analysts who see him as a dark horse candidate. “Maxx Crosby is playing at a DPOY level,” NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said. “He’s not just getting sacks—he’s changing games, and he’s doing it for a team that’s in the playoff hunt. If he keeps this up, he’s going to be in the conversation at the end of the season.” For the Las Vegas Raiders, a DPOY win for Crosby would be a historic achievement—no Raiders player has won the award since Charles Woodson in 2009. “Winning Defensive Player of the Week is amazing, but DPOY is the ultimate goal,” Crosby said in an interview with NFL.com. “I’m not doing it for myself—I’m doing it for this team, this city, and these fans. We’re building something special here, and I want to be a part of bringing a championship to Las Vegas.”

Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders concludes with a reflection on what Crosby’s honor means for the Raiders’ present and future. For the current team, it’s a morale boost as they fight for a playoff spot—proof that their hard work is being recognized by the league. For the franchise, it’s a validation of their decision to invest in Crosby, who signed a four-year, $98 million extension in 2023 and has since emerged as a franchise cornerstone. For fans, it’s a reason to celebrate—a chance to cheer for a player who embodies the Raiders’ tough, competitive spirit. As the Raiders prepare for their final three games, Crosby’s award serves as a reminder of what’s possible when talent, work ethic, and team chemistry come together. “This award is a great achievement, but it’s not the end,” McDaniels said. “Maxx is the kind of player who will use this as motivation to get better, and so will the rest of the team. We have big goals ahead, and this is just one step along the way.” In the end, Defensive Player of the Week Award Goes to Star of the Las Vegas Raiders is more than a story about a single game or a single award—it’s a story about a player reaching his prime, a team finding its identity, and a fan base rallying around a true star.