Maxx Crosby threw the first punch.

Patrick Mahomes fought back and didn’t stop the fight until the fight was over.

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When the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs meet the day after Thanksgiving, personal pride will be more important than playoff placement.

While the Chiefs (10-1) look to maintain control of the AFC and secure a No. 1 playoff spot, the Raiders (2-9) are more focused on next year’s No. 1 draft pick and the uncertain future of the first season. Year head coach Antonio Pierce.

But when Crosby and Mahomes are on the same field, passion will win and team records will be tossed aside.

“If it’s between quarters, he (Mahomes) knows what time it is,” Crosby said. “And I know what time it is when he’s out there.”

There is no greater quarterback-rusher rivalry in the NFL than that between a three-time Super Bowl winner and a three-time Pro Bowler.

There is mutual respect between Mahomes and Crosby.

There’s also a simmering intensity that has led to the NFL’s 98th-ranked Silver and Black face shouting profanities vigorously.

“You woke up the wrong mother******!” Mahomes yelled at Crosby as the Chiefs faced the Raiders in 2022.

A year later, when Mahomes led Kansas City to a thrilling overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in the Raiders’ hometown, a steamy Crosby stared at a television screen as he watched Mahomes win his third championship ring.

The rivalry between Mahomes and Crosby – which led to Las Vegas adopting the Michael Jordan-inspired “Mahomes Rules” in 2024 – was highlighted in the first season of Netflix’s quarterback documentary.

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Mahomes was fully aware that Crosby was “trying to do everything he could to get in my head.”

But when Las Vegas led the Chiefs 17-0 at Arrowhead Stadium at the start of the 2022 season, Crosby initially got the better of Mahomes.

This included a covert punch and a very noticeable headbutt.

“Don’t just hit me for no reason, dog,” Mahomes told Crosby.

The Kansas City leader turned Crosby’s constant taunts into an inspiration on the field.

The Chiefs turned a 17-0 deficit into a 30-29 comeback victory, en route to a Super Bowl victory that could be part of a historic three-peat this season.

“I just freaked out,” Mahomes said.

“I don’t even know what I’m saying. I just pass out and go crazy.

“Whenever coach (Andy) Reid has to grab you and pull you aside, that’s when you know you’re going too far. He’s usually in favor of letting you show your personality.”

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Mahomes showed a super-intense side of himself that has rarely been seen since he entered the league in 2017 from Texas Tech.

It was boilerplate work for Crosby, as one of the NFL’s best defenders tried – and failed – to get the best of Mahomes.

“I played around with him a little bit, gave him a squeeze on the shoulder after the ball went away and just tried to play around with him to see how he would react,” Crosby said.

“He started to get annoyed. He nudged me and I asked, ‘What’s wrong?’ And I walked right up to him and he walked up to me.

“My immediate, completely natural human reaction: someone comes at me, I strike first. So I headbutted him.”

Mahomes sensed the attack and knew he had to react.

“I am here!” he shouted at Crosby. “I am here!”

The Chiefs lead the all-time series against the Raiders 74-55-2.

Las Vegas won 20-14 on Christmas Day last year.

But Kansas City is 7-1 in the rivalry since November 2020 and the Super Bowl-bound Chiefs will be heavily favored on Friday.

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