Only three teams have beaten the New England Patriots this season, and Maxx Crosby was on one of them.
Crosby helped the Las Vegas Raiders beat the eventual AFC champions at Gillette Stadium in Week 1. The five-time Pro Bowler was a menace on defense, recording one sack and two quarterback hits on Drake Maye while also defending a pass.
The Patriots steadily improved from there, losing just two games the rest of the way. Now, they’re in the Super Bowl after grinding out a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
Despite playing four months of stellar football, New England still isn’t getting the respect it deserves. Many people have chalked up the Patriots’ success to an easy schedule, and they enter the Super Bowl as significant underdogs against the Seattle Seahawks.
Crosby passionately defended New England this week on his podcast, “The Rush,” following the AFC title game.
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“It was tough for both teams, but ultimately the Patriots pulled it off. You gotta give them credit,” Crosby said. “They found a way. They have continuously found ways to win, and people continuously find ways to discredit them.”
Crosby cited the stat that the Patriots are the first team in NFL history to beat three top-five total defenses in the same postseason. While their regular-season schedule was historically easy, their playoff slate has been historically difficult.
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“Their defense is legit. They found a way. Drake Maye made two great plays…and closed the game out,” added Crosby, who knows a thing or two about defense.
While some people don’t think New England is legit, Crosby isn’t one of them. The Patriots will have one more chance to prove they’re for real when they face the Seahawks on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara.
