Maxx Crosby dealt the first blow.
Patrick Mahomes hit back and didn’t finish until the fight was done.
Patrick Mahomes has had the upper hand vs the Las Vegas Raiders[/caption]
When the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs meet on the day after Thanksgiving, personal pride will be more important than playoff seeding.
While the Chiefs (10-1) are attempting to maintain control of the AFC and earn a No. 1 playoff seed, the Raiders (2-9) are more focused on next year’s No. 1 draft pick and the undetermined future of first-year head coach Antonio Pierce.
But if Crosby and Mahomes are on the same field, passion will prevail and team records will be tossed aside.
“When it’s between the quarters, he (Mahomes) knows what time it is,” Crosby said. “And I know what time it is when he’s out there.”
There is no greater quarterback vs rusher rivalry in the NFL than the one featuring a three-time Super Bowl winner and three-time Pro Bowler.
There is mutual respect between Mahomes and Crosby.
There is also a simmering intensity that has seen the face of the NFL fiercely shout curse words at No. 98 for the silver and black.
“You woke up the wrong mother******!” Mahomes screamed at Crosby, when the Chiefs faced the Raiders in 2022.
When Mahomes guided Kansas City to a tense overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII a year later inside the Raiders’ home city, a steaming Crosby stared at a TV screen as he watched Mahomes win his third championship ring.
The rivalry between Mahomes and Crosby — which saw Las Vegas institute the Michael Jordan inspired ‘Mahomes Rules’ in 2024 — was highlighted in Season One of Netflix’s Quarterback documentary.
Maxx Crosby went out his way to get in Mahomes’ face[/caption]
The duo took their rivalry to a new level in 2022[/caption]
Crosby and the Raiders led 17-0[/caption]
Mahomes became so mad he screamed at Crosby while the Chiefs pulled out the win[/caption]
Mahomes was fully aware that Crosby was “trying to do whatever he could to get in my head.”
But with Las Vegas leading 17-0 at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium early in the 2022 season, Crosby initially got the best of Mahomes.
That included an obscured punch and very noticeable headbutt.
“Don’t just punch me for no reason, dog,” Mahomes told Crosby.
The Kansas City leader turned Crosby’s constant needling into on-field inspiration.
The Chiefs turned a 17-0 deficit into a 30-29 comeback victory, setting them on the way to a Super Bowl victory that could become part of a historic three-peat this season.
“I just kind of snapped,” Mahomes said.
“I don’t even know what I’m saying. I’m just kind of blacking out and going crazy.
“Whenever coach (Andy) Reid has to grab you and pull you aside, that’s when you know you’re going too far. He’s usually all for letting your personality show.”
Crosby is one of the few rushers who can consistently get to Mahomes[/caption]
Mahomes showed off a super-intense side of himself that has rarely been seen since he entered the league in 2017 out of Texas Tech.
For Crosby, it was standard operating procedure as one of the best defenders in the NFL tried — and failed — to get the best of Mahomes.
“I was messing with him a little bit, pushing him on the shoulder after the ball was gone, just trying to mess with him to see how he would react,” Crosby said.
“He started getting irritated. He bumped me, and I’m like, ‘What’s up?’ And I walked right up to him and he started walking at me.
“My immediate, just natural human reaction, somebody is walking at me, I’m hitting first. So I headbutted him.”
Mahomes felt the attack and knew he had to respond.
“I’m here!” he shouted at Crosby. “I’m here!”
The Chiefs lead the all-time series against the Raiders 74-55-2.
Las Vegas won on Christmas Day last year 20-14.
But Kansas City is 7-1 in the rivalry since November 2020 and the Super Bowl-contending Chiefs will be heavily favored on Friday.
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