Michael Crabtree–Aqib Talib Sideline Brawl and Suspensions (2017)

On November 26, 2017, in a regular-season game at Oakland Coliseum, wide receiver Michael Crabtree and cornerback Aqib Talib engaged in a sideline altercation that escalated into punches and shoves, prompting ejections for both players. Reporting describes Crabtree's chain removal and physical confrontation with Talib as part of the exchange; Talib later said, "I came out there to play football on Sunday. I really don't know what he came out there to do," framing the incident as Crabtree's provocation [1]. Broncos coach Vance Joseph called the behavior "unacceptable" and noted the team lost one of its best players due to the personal confrontation [1]. The NFL reviewed the incident and initially suspended both players for two games without pay; those suspensions were reported by national outlets and prompted appeals from the players and teams [2][3]. Media coverage captured bench reactions and teammates' comments, including Chris Harris Jr.'s remark that "[Crabtree] didn't come to play football -- we came to play football," reflecting locker-room sentiment after the altercation [1]. The sequence reignited public attention on the Talib–Crabtree feud, which had included an earlier 2016 chain-grab episode [1][2][3].

This fight is significant within the rivalry because it combined on-field violence, player ejections and league discipline in a high-profile divisional game. The suspensions removed two starters for multiple games and underscored how personal rivalries between players can produce tangible roster consequences for both teams. The incident also generated national headlines and contributed to the rivalry's narrative of intense, sometimes personal, confrontations between named players [1][2][3].

The NFL issued two-game suspensions to Crabtree and Talib; those punishments were reported and became part of the dispute's postgame chronology as players and teams appealed. Broncos coach Vance Joseph publicly condemned the incident, calling it unacceptable, while Talib defended his actions in postgame comments [1][3]. The disciplinary resolution and appeals process concluded weeks later in the 2017 season, and the incident remains a frequently cited example of on-field personal antagonism in Broncos–Raiders history [1][2][3].