The NFL started keeping track of sacks as an official stat in 1982. A year later, Raiders rookie Greg Townsend had 10.5 sacks. That set a record that has stood to this day. Sunday in Denver, it came within an eyelash of being matched by Maxx Crosby.
On the Broncos’ second possession of the game, Crosby got in the backfield to sack QB Drew Lock. For a moment, it looked like Crosby would boost his team-leading sack total from 8.5 to 9.5, but the ruling was that he shared the sack with defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, bringing Crosby’s sack total to a clean 9.0 for the season.
Early in the fourth quarter, Crosby got in the backfield again, this time hitting Lock’s arm as he threw. For an instant, it looked like an incomplete pass, but the officials ruled it a fumble as Crosby got his arm just as he was moving it forward.
The Broncos recovered it and were given the first down, so everyone was wondering what the hell just happened and how a QB hit and forced fumble by the Raiders could result in a positive play for the Broncos. And, wait, isn’t that a strip-sack? There was no official word that it was being ruled a sack, which made it all the odder.
When the gamebook came out, the error was fixed and Crosby was awarded the strip-sack he earned, putting his season total at 10.0. And, hey, the Broncos would fumble two plays later, so all was in balance.
Crosby may have just missed the Raiders rookie record, but he hit double digits which is an accomplishment all itself. The fourth round rookie looks like the real deal, with a wingspan for days and a motor that never quits. He came closer than anyone else has in challenging the franchise record that has stood for 36 years. Aaron Wallace had 9.0 in 1990 which was previously the closest.
Oh, and Greg Townsend went on to put up 107.5 sacks in Silver & Black. Crosby is off to an equally impressive start.
[lawrence-newsletter]