If there’s one player outside the Motor City who’s captured the attention of the Detroit Lions, it’s Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders. The dominant pass rusher has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain a Raider for life — but as any NFL fan knows, circumstances shift quickly, and loyalty in the league can be fleeting.
For Detroit, Crosby checks every box. The Michigan-born star grew up in Lapeer and developed his game at Eastern Michigan University, making a potential homecoming both poetic and exciting. Just imagine the havoc a Crosby–Aidan Hutchinson pairing could wreak on opposing quarterbacks — it would be a nightmare for offensive lines across the NFL.
At the moment, Crosby remains a Raider under new head coach Pete Carroll, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, the transition hasn’t gone smoothly. In Sunday’s Week 7 matchup on October 19, the Kansas City Chiefs absolutely dismantled Las Vegas with a 31–0 shutout.
Crosby’s Health and the State of the Raiders
Crosby’s afternoon was cut short when he exited the game in the first half due to knee and back issues. He was already listed on the team’s injury report prior to kickoff, but it appeared manageable. After the loss, Carroll admitted that the same knee problem had been bothering Crosby before the game even began.
While everyone hopes he heals up soon, the bigger question looms — with the Raiders slipping to 2–5, how long will Crosby want to stay in a situation that’s spiraling downward?
Interestingly, about this same time last year, a Sports Illustrated report by Christian Booher and John Maakaron suggested that there was mutual interest between Crosby and the Lions. “According to a source with knowledge of the situation, there is natural interest from Crosby’s side in joining the Lions via a trade,” the article read. If that intrigue existed in 2024, it’s fair to wonder if it still lingers in 2025.
So far this season, Crosby has four sacks (via ESPN) and entered the Chiefs game leading the league with 10 tackles for loss (Pro Football Stats). Should Detroit ever make this dream move happen, they might as well cue up Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ as the official anthem.
Lions vs. Buccaneers: Monday Night Football Preview
The Lions return to action on Monday, October 20, for a primetime clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game promises fireworks — and plenty of pressure on Jared Goff, who’s been sensational this season.
According to Christian Gonzales of NFL.com, Goff leads all quarterbacks entering Week 7 with 14 passing touchdowns and a 75.9% completion rate. The matchup is particularly intriguing because of how well Goff performs against the blitz. Next Gen Stats reports that he owns a 137.1 passer rating when defenses send extra rushers, while the Buccaneers blitz on 35.5% of snaps — the fifth-highest rate in the NFL.
That balance of aggression and composure makes this game one to watch. As Gonzales pointed out, five different Lions players already have multiple receiving touchdowns, and the backfield tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery has been a force.
The Buccaneers, however, remain one of the league’s most dangerous defensive units, meaning Detroit will have to be at its best to maintain momentum. Still, if there’s ever been a season where the Lions look ready to dominate — this just might be it.
