Not many quarterbacks look forward to seeing Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby on the other side of the line of scrimmage, but Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says he does look forward to the intense competition he gets when Crosby is on the field.
Mahomes said that with the Raiders on the schedule for Sunday, he’s extra motivated to play his best, because he knows Crosby is going to bring his best.
“He’s one of the best competitors in the league,” Mahomes said of Crosby. “That’s where the respect comes from, we have that mutual want to be the best on the field when we’re out there. You go against those guys, it brings out the best in you. There’s a ton of respect for how he plays the game of football, how he competes and the man he is. When I step on that football field I’m going to need my best because he’s going to bring his best, and that’s when you get the best games out there.”
Mahomes said he considers Crosby a friend and that the two of them texted each other during the offseason to encourage each other as they were both recovering from knee injuries. And Mahomes is looking forward to beating his friend on Sunday.
“It’s what pure football is, when the best competitors compete against each other,” Mahomes said. “At the end of the day, you want the great competitors, the great players in this league because it makes the league better. And it makes it, when you go out there and do get the win, even better.”
