Maxx Crosby shares harsh truth about 2-8 Raiders after blowout loss to Cowboys

Ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders was among some noteworthy pass-rushers linked in stories with the Dallas Cowboys.

Crosby ultimately stayed put and featured for the Raiders as they fell to 2-8 on the season via a blowout 33-16 home loss to the Cowboys on Monday night. Following that defeat, Crosby shared a blunt assessment regarding what the Raiders are and aren't this fall. 

Maxx Crosby acknowledges harsh truth about Raiders

"We just aren’t good enough right now," Crosby said about the Raiders, per Tim Capurso of Sports Illustrated. "You know what I mean? There [are] a lot of issues, and we’ve got to find ways to get better, find solutions instead of just doing the same thing and expecting a different result. We’ve got to find ways to improve, and it takes everybody. It’s not about pointing a finger at anyone. I point at myself first. I look at myself to find ways to improve every day, and it’s got to be everybody in the building. We’ve got to find solutions. That’s it."

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith pointed a finger at himself when he said after Monday's loss that he has "got to play better." According to ESPN stats, the Raiders ended Week 11 ranked 30th in the league with an average of 15.5 points scored per game (tied with the
New Orleans Saints) and 30th with an average of 269.0 yards gained per contest. 

Meanwhile, Dallas wide receiver George Pickens torched the Las Vegas defense to the tune of nine receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown on Monday night. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott tossed four touchdown passes to help his club improve to 4-5-1. 

Maxx Crosby vows "to continue leading" amid rough season for Raiders

Crosby signed a three-year, $106.5M contract extension to remain with the Raiders this past offseason, and he later voiced his support for the regime led by general manager John Spytek and 74-year-old head coach Pete Carroll. Despite Las Vegas' record, Crosby isn't punting on the remainder of the campaign. 

"We have 17 opportunities," Crosby added during his postgame comments. "You train all year round to get 17 opportunities guaranteed. So if anybody takes that for granted, shame on them. You show up every day, you gotta [expletive] go out there and produce and find solutions and look yourself in the mirror and get better. ...We're not playing good football. So we've showed glimpses of being close, but this is the NFL. You either win or you lose. And we're not doing that right now at a high level. So for me, I'm going to continue leading, continue working my a— off at the highest level and try to get everybody in the same direction." 

The Raiders next host a Cleveland Browns (2-8) side that is planning to start rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders this coming Sunday. As of Tuesday morning, ESPN BET had Las Vegas as a 3.5-point home favorite for that game.