Maxx Crosby's Battle Against the Los Angeles Chargers O-Line

When the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers face off, one matchup always takes center stage: Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby against the Chargers’ offensive line. A five-time Pro Bowler and one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers, Crosby has made tormenting the Chargers’ line a career staple—recording 12 sacks, 28 pressures, and 4 forced fumbles in 10 career matchups. But 2025’s meetings carry extra weight: with both teams fighting for AFC playoff spots, Crosby’s ability to disrupt the Chargers’ offense could decide the AFC West race. Maxx Crosby's Battle Against the Los Angeles Chargers O-Line breaks down this iconic rivalry, Crosby’s tactical approach, the Chargers’ attempts to slow him, and how their back-and-forth shapes the outcome of their critical divisional games. For football fans, this battle isn’t just about one player vs. a unit—it’s a masterclass in NFL strategy and execution.

Maxx Crosby's Battle Against the Los Angeles Chargers O-Line begins with Crosby’s historical dominance over the Chargers and his motivation to keep that streak alive. Since entering the league in 2019, Crosby has averaged 1.2 sacks per game against the Chargers—his highest rate against any AFC West opponent. His most memorable performance came in 2023, when he recorded 3 sacks, 5 pressures, and a forced fumble in a 30-24 Raiders win, single-handedly derailing the Chargers’ playoff hopes. This season, Crosby is off to another elite start: 11 sacks, 32 pressures, and 2 forced fumbles through 12 games, putting him in contention for Defensive Player of the Year. “The Chargers are a rival, and rivalries bring out the best in you,” Crosby said in a pregame press conference. “I know their line well—I know their tendencies, their strengths, their weaknesses. Every time we play, I’m locked in. I want to make their quarterback uncomfortable, and I want to help my team win.” For the Chargers, containing Crosby isn’t just a game plan—it’s a prerequisite for success. “If you let Maxx Crosby beat you, you lose the game,” said Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. “He’s the kind of player who can take over a matchup, so we have to be perfect in how we block him.”

Maxx Crosby's Battle Against the Los Angeles Chargers O-Line continues with the tactical chess match between Crosby and the Chargers’ line. Crosby’s signature move is a devastating speed-to-power rush—using his 265-pound frame and 4.64-second 40-yard dash speed to beat tackles off the edge, then bull-rushing them into the quarterback’s lap. To counter this, the Chargers have deployed three strategies: 1) using tight ends or running backs to chip Crosby before releasing into routes; 2) sliding the offensive line to his side to create a double team; and 3) having the tackle “mirror” his moves to avoid overcommitting. In their Week 6 matchup (a 24-17 Chargers win), the Chargers relied heavily on tight end Dalton Kincaid to chip Crosby—limiting him to 1 pressure and 0 sacks. “The chip is effective because it slows him down just enough,” said Chargers offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. “Maxx thrives on momentum—if you can disrupt that momentum, you can neutralize him.” But Crosby adjusted in practice for their Week 14 rematch: “I’ve been working on beating the chip—using a quick inside move to get past the tight end before he can make contact,” he said. “They’ll adjust, I’ll adjust. That’s what makes this battle fun.”

Maxx Crosby's Battle Against the Los Angeles Chargers O-Line also highlights the key individual matchups within the larger battle—specifically, Crosby vs. Chargers right tackle Trey Pipkins III and right guard Jamaree Salyer. Pipkins, the Chargers’ starting right tackle since 2022, has faced Crosby more than any other Charger—allowing 5 sacks and 12 pressures in 8 matchups. Their rivalry is physical: Pipkins uses his 6’7” frame to lean on Crosby, while Crosby uses his strength to push Pipkins back. In Week 6, Pipkins held Crosby to 0 sacks, but he admitted it was a grind: “Maxx is the hardest player I’ve ever blocked,” Pipkins said. “Every snap is a fight—he never lets up. You have to be mentally and physically ready for 60 minutes.” When the Chargers slide the line to Crosby’s side, Salyer (the Chargers’ emergent right guard) often joins the double team. Salyer’s athleticism has made him effective at mirroring Crosby’s moves—he held Crosby to 0 pressures in 12 snaps together in Week 6. For the Los Angeles Chargers, these individual battles are make-or-break: if Pipkins or Salyer falters, Crosby can take over the game. “Trey and Jamaree have to be at their best,” Staley said. “We don’t have a backup plan for Maxx Crosby—we have to win those one-on-one matchups.”

Maxx Crosby's Battle Against the Los Angeles Chargers O-Line delves into how this matchup impacts both teams’ offensive and defensive strategies. For the Raiders, Crosby’s presence opens up opportunities for the rest of their defense: if the Chargers double-team Crosby, it leaves other pass rushers (like Chandler Jones) in one-on-one matchups. In Week 6, the Chargers’ focus on Crosby let Jones record 2 sacks and 3 pressures. “Maxx draws so much attention that it makes my job easier,” Jones said. “Teams can’t stop both of us—something’s gotta give.” For the Los Angeles Chargers, neutralizing Crosby lets their offense operate freely: quarterback Justin Herbert has a 102.3 passer rating when Crosby is held to 0 sacks, compared to a 78.5 rating when Crosby records 1+ sacks. “When Maxx is quiet, our offense is dynamic,” Herbert said. “We can run the ball, we can throw deep—we don’t have to worry about him disrupting the play. That’s a huge weight off our shoulders.” The impact also extends to the run game: the Chargers average 115 yards per game on the ground when Crosby is neutralized, vs. 82 yards per game when he’s active. For both teams, this battle isn’t just about sacks—it’s about controlling the tempo of the game.

Maxx Crosby's Battle Against the Los Angeles Chargers O-Line concludes with the stakes of their Week 14 rematch and the legacy of this rivalry. Entering the game, the Chargers hold a 10-3 record (No. 3 AFC seed), while the Raiders are 8-5 (No. 6 seed). A Chargers win would all but lock up the AFC West; a Raiders win would keep their division hopes alive and tighten the wild-card race. For Crosby, the game is personal: “I want to be the reason we beat the Chargers,” he said. “I want to look back on this season and say I dominated that line when it mattered most.” For the Los Angeles Chargers, stopping Crosby is about more than winning a game—it’s about proving they can beat elite competition. “Maxx Crosby is the gold standard for pass rushers,” Bricillo said. “If we can stop him, we can stop anyone. That’s the statement we want to make.” Win or lose, this battle will add another chapter to one of the NFL’s best modern rivalries. For fans, it’s a chance to watch two elite units clash—one player trying to take over, one line trying to shut him down. In the end, Maxx Crosby's Battle Against the Los Angeles Chargers O-Line is what makes football great: strategy, athleticism, and the relentless pursuit of victory.