Ballers: DEs Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell, Benson Mayowa
The Raiders edge rushers were feasting on the Chargers’ backup tackles. Rivers was never comfortable in the pocket, and he isn’t someone who gets easily rattled. On the third play of the game, Crosby and Ferrell converged on Rivers to sack him for an 8-yard loss. A few plays later, Crosby would nail Rivers as he threw and the pass fell incomplete. Harris would get his first pick on the next play.
The second Harris interception was made possible with pressure from Maxx Crosby. The next possession, Ferrell had a couple run stops, and then on third and four Mayowa got around the edge again to get Rivers’ arm as he drew back. Rivers pulled it back, and Mayowa sacks him with an assist from Maurice Hurst.
The Chargers’ first two scoring drives were not great for Ferrell and Crosby. The first one had Ferrell twice lining up offside. Though he also batted down a pass at the line on first and goal from the two. The second one had Erik Harris’s interception wiped out by Crosby lining up offside. They giveth, and they taketh away.
Those mistakes behind them, Ferrell sacked Rivers on the Chargers’ second play of the third quarter, leading to a three-and-out. Next possession was also a three-and-out with Mayowa again getting the edge to hit Rivers’ arm as he threw. This time he forced the fumble and just couldn’t quite get to the loose ball. Either way, the Chargers had to give the ball back.
On the final Chargers scoring drive, the pass rush seemed to be the only thing that was working. The first play saw Ferrell got to Rivers for the third time on the day for a three-yard loss. The Chargers would convert on third, and on the next play, Crosby would get in the backfield for a tackle for loss.
A bogus pass interference penalty would give the Chargers a new set of downs, and Crosby got pressure and was held to back them up. Another penalty would give the Chargers another new set of downs, and Crosby had a run stop. They would still get the touchdown to take a late lead, but not for lack of effort on the part of the edge rushers.
The Raiders would answer with a score of their own to re-take the lead, so it was up to the defense to hold it. Seven plays in, with the Chargers lining up in 4th and 10, with the game in the balance, Crosby would get to Rivers again, laying a hit on him as he threw and Karl Joseph picked it off to seal the deal.
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