"Outstanding."
"Phenomenal."
"Awesome."
"Relentless."
Those are the words Interim Head Coach Rich Bisaccia used to describe the Raiders defense's performance in an electric 17-13 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
It was one of Gus Bradley & Co.'s best defensive efforts this season, as the Silver and Black allowed just 18 rushing yards to the league's ninth-best rushing attack and held their AFC West rivals to 1-of-10 on third down. The last time the Broncos were held to under 20 rushing yards was back in 2016 by the Tennessee Titans.
Before Sunday, the Raiders defense was ranked 25th in the league against the run and were allowing an average 122.7 yards per game. But today when they stepped on the field, they completely turned it around.
"Our mentality is 1-0. That's what it's been the last couple weeks," Maxx Crosby said postgame. "Just seeing how the guys have been responding has been awesome. On the D-line, we've just been super locked in on not making mistakes.
"Ever since the Kansas City game, we were jumping offsides, having penalties. We just can't have that. We can't be having penalties this time of the year. We've just got to play clean, good football, and that's what we did today."
On top of keeping the run under control, the defensive line burst through multiple times to get to quarterback Drew Lock.
Crosby, on the heels of a Pro Bowl selection, showed why those around the league believe he's one of the best at the position with the pressures, sack and two tackles he notched on the day. Quinton Jefferson also notched a pivotal sack in the fourth quarter that stopped the Broncos on a third-and-10 and gave the Raiders the ball to bring an end to the game and a win to their record.
"He plays like he thinks," Bisaccia said of Crosby. "He practices like he thinks. His meetings are like he thinks. I challenge anyone to find a play this year that he's taken off in a game.
"It certainly speaks to his conditioning, it certainly speaks to his mindset and it certainly speaks to the man that he's become. He's a leader not only by things that he says, but most certainly by the power of example."
The Silver and Black also got a key piece of its defense back in Denzel Perryman – who missed the past two games with an ankle injury – and his impact was felt right away as he made the first tackle of the day and added four more to that throughout the game.
"He's a special cat, man. The way he plays, you can tell it matters to him," Crosby said. "The way he hits people, I would not want to be hit by that man. I don't care how small he is, he puts a dent in everybody. He's just a different type of player. He's relentless, he brings leadership and he's a guy you can trust back there."
However, Perryman wasn't the Raiders' leading tackler for once. That credit went to cornerback Desmond Trufant in his first start for the team among injuries at the position. Trufant totaled seven tackles on the day and stepped up when needed, a common thread in Las Vegas' defense.
"They've done a great job of stopping the run and that's where it starts. It starts from the inside out," Hunter Renfrow said. "It gives you a lot of confidence because you don't have to be perfect. You know that the defense is going to have your back no matter what. Great teams find a way to feed off each other, and our defense has given us that."
While it was an outstanding day to be a player on the Raiders defense, the biggest success Crosby felt they found was the commitment to the game in all phases of the game.
"If you don't play with effort, you're not going to be able to do what you want to do out there."
View photos from the Raiders' Week 16 matchup against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Desmond Trufant (10) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DeSean Jackson (1) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DeSean Jackson (1) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue (91) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) sack the quarterback during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) celebrates after sacking the quarterback during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) celebrates after sacking the quarterback during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Peyton Barber (31) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) makes a 10-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) makes a 10-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) celebrate after connecting on a 10-yard touchdown pass during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) lines up to kick a PAT during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and center Andre James (68) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) and cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Denzel Perryman (52) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Desmond Trufant (10) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Peyton Barber (31) rushes for a 5-yard touchdown during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Peyton Barber (31) rushes for a 5-yard touchdown during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Peyton Barber (31) rushes for a 5-yard touchdown during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Peyton Barber (31) is congratulated by tackle Kolton Miller (74) after rushing for a 5-yard touchdown during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
The Las Vegas Raiders offense huddles during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DeSean Jackson (1) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DeSean Jackson (1) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. (29) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Peyton Barber (31) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) kicks a 41-yard field goal during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (77) sacks the quarterback during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (77) sacks the quarterback during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (77) celebrates with defensive tackle Solomon Thomas (92) after sacking the quarterback during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (77) is congratulated by defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) after sacking the quarterback during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyron Johnson (17) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) is congratulated by wide receiver DeSean Jackson (1) after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) is congratulated by quarterback Derek Carr (4) after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Denver Broncos.
