5 toughest defensive players 49ers will face in 2022
By Peter Panacy
49ers tough opponent No. 3: EDGE Maxx Crosby, Raiders
Not completely forgetting about Nick Bosa here, it’s somewhat amazing to think how big a snub he was from the 2021 All-Pro voting, not receiving a first- or second-team designation despite 15.5 sacks and a league-leading 21 tackles for a loss.
Instead, shockingly or not, the second-team designation went to Las Vegas Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby in the wake of his eight-sack, 30 quarterback-hit breakout 2021 campaign.
In fairness to Crosby, the relatively low sack totals don’t do him a lot of justice. The 24-year-old Crosby was the epitome of a pocket-wrecking force, equally adept at blowing up run plays in the backfield while also offering up the best pass-rushing output from anyone on Las Vegas’ defense a season ago.
Freshly motivated from a career-best campaign, Crosby and the Raiders would love nothing more than to spoil San Francisco’s Week 17 visit to Allegiant Stadium on Jan. 1, and the pass-rusher taking advantage of what could be a tired and worn-out 49ers offensive line might be the X-factor that makes this particular game difficult for the Niners to win.