The Las Vegas Raiders returned to their home field at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday and delivered a defensive masterclass against the New York Giants. The Raiders defense recorded eight sacks, two interceptions, and held the Giants to just six points in a 30-6 victory.
Crosby leads the sack attack
Defensive end Maxx Crosby was the star of the show, as he sacked Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito three times and forced a fumble. Crosby now has 12 sacks on the season, which leads the NFL. He also became the first Raider to have three sacks in a game since Khalil Mack in 2015.
Crosby said he had a lot of fun on the field and praised his teammates for their collective effort. “You can feel it. The energy was crazy and we sustained it the whole game. I feel like this D-line group, we have something special going on,” he said.
Crosby was not the only Raider to get to DeVito, as Tyree Wilson, Solomon Thomas, Yannick Ngakoue, Quinton Jefferson, and Malcolm Koonce also registered sacks. The Raiders defense totaled eight sacks for the first time since 2010, when they had nine against the Seattle Seahawks.
Robertson and Hobbs make big plays in the secondary
The Raiders secondary also contributed to the defensive dominance, as cornerbacks Amik Robertson and Nate Hobbs each intercepted DeVito. Robertson picked off DeVito on the Giants’ second drive of the game and returned it 28 yards to set up a touchdown by Josh Jacobs. It was Robertson’s second interception of the season and his career.
Robertson said he was just doing his job and playing within the scheme. “Once I saw the ball then I knew it was mine,” he said.
Hobbs also made a big play in the second quarter, when he jumped in front of a pass intended for Kenny Golladay and returned it 39 yards to the Giants’ 13-yard line. The Raiders capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown pass from Aidan O’Connell to Darren Waller. It was Hobbs’ first interception of the season and the second of his career.
Hobbs credited his teammates for their support and said he was just trying to play with his heart. “I just got to credit my guys, all my teammates bro. I just run to the ball, just try to play with my heart,” he said.
Raiders bounce back from tough losses
The Raiders improved to 7-2 with the win over the Giants, bouncing back from two consecutive losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders are now tied with the Chiefs for the best record in the AFC West and the second-best record in the AFC.
The Raiders defense has been a key factor in their success, as they rank fourth in the league in points allowed per game (18.3) and sixth in sacks (29). The Raiders have also forced 16 turnovers, which is tied for the fifth-most in the league.
The Raiders will look to continue their defensive excellence next week, when they face the Denver Broncos on the road. The Raiders beat the Broncos 23-20 in Week 4, thanks to a game-winning field goal by Daniel Carlson.
