Bucky Brooks’ observations from Raiders’ Week 11 win

Maxx Crosby steps up his game again

It is not a secret that No. 98 is the Raiders’ top defender and one of the best ballers in the league, but the fourth-year pro issued a reminder to the football world with his spectacular performance against the Broncos.

Crosby notched six tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and blocked a field goal attempt while displaying his trademark energy, enthusiasm and effort. The veteran defender kept the Raiders in the game with a back-to-back sequence of disruptive plays that held the game within three points heading into halftime.

Crosby punched the ball out of Melvin Gordon’s hands at the one-yard line (recovered by the Broncos at the seven-yard line) and followed it up with a block on a 25-yard field goal attempt. The block is the third of his career and the latest highlight for a player who brings his best every week.

As a pass rusher, Crosby came up with a pair of second-half sacks to keep the game within striking distance on the road. The veteran flashed the ability to win with strength and power utilizing a push-pull maneuver to sack Russell Wilson on a third-down sack. And later notched a sack on an electric spin move that overwhelmed the heavy-footed right tackle Cameron Fleming.

With Crosby producing a handful of splash plays that ended drives and squashed scoring opportunities, the veteran defender helped the team snap a three-game losing streak.