The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens rivalry is one of the most physical and eye catching feuds in professional sports. It doesn't have the same historic factor as other rivalries due to the Ravens not becoming an NFL team until the 1996 NFL season, but it has quickly turned into one of the most heated matchups in the league. Both teams have seen similar levels of success since the Ravens joined the league, as they have each won two Super Bowls, typically due to their stifling defenses. One of the best defenders in the league today, Maxx Crosby, shared that the rivalry turned him into the player he is.
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Former Steelers CB Bryant McFadden makes a tackle against the Baltimore Ravens.
Crosby is known for having a high motor, as he rarely comes off of the field, unlike other elite defenders in the NFL. He had the best season of his career in 2023, and found himself being a finalist for the NFL's Defensive Player Of The Year Award along with Steelers star, TJ Watt. Crosby was on the field for 95% of the Las Vegas Raiders' defensive plays during the 2023 season, which is unheard for a player of his caliber. In an interview with LaVar Arrington on the Up On Game Network, Crosby discussed how watching the Steelers and Ravens rivalry fueled his love for football.
"For me, I grew up watching the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the Ravens and all those guys, the James Harrisons, the Terrell Suggs, those guys like that. I have a respect for the game and the way it's supposed to be played. For me, to be a legend, which I want to be, I want to be one of the greatest to do it. I got a lot of work to do. At the end of the day you got to separate yourself, and be unique in your own right. For me, it's playing as many snaps as I do, playing the style of football I play with reckless abandonment, not having any regard for my body."
Reckless abandonment is certainly a term that can be used to describe the style of play James Harrison had. He was known for his skull-crushing hits, and it seemed he never had any regard for his body when he was on the football field. This is definitely something Crosby developed by watching Harrison in those older Steelers matchups with the Ravens.
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Steelers legendary linebacker, James Harrison (#92) prepares to rush the passer during a regular season football game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
Harrison's style of play led him to a very successful career. He was a key member of two Super Bowl winning teams in Pittsburgh, and he is responsible for one of the most iconic plays in the history of the Super Bowl for when he picked off Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XLIII and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. For a long time, Harrison held the Steelers franchise record for most sacks, until Watt broke the record during the 2023 season.
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Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby has developed into one of the league's best, and he has caused issues for the Steelers the past two seasons.
Steelers' TJ Watt and Raiders' Maxx Crosby Will Be Two Of The Best Defenders For The Foreseeable Future
Watt and Crosby have been two of the best defenders in the league for some time now. Watt has a more decorated resume, winning the DPOY Award in 2021 and being named an All-Pro five times and a Pro Bowler six times. However, Crosby is expected to be a favorite to win DPOY for years to come. He has been an All-Pro twice, a Pro Bowler three times, and continues to up his production every season. He has led the NFL in tackles for loss in 2022 and 2023, and he will be battling Watt, Myles Garrett, and Micah Parsons for the title as the NFL's best defender in 2024.
What do you think about the impact of the Steelers and Ravens rivalry on Crosby as a player? Let us know in the comments below!
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