The Raiders got the kind of Week 1 start they wanted, beating the Miami Dolphins to open the 2026 season 1-0. And while the win itself was encouraging, the bigger defensive storyline may have been about how Las Vegas handled its best pass rusher.
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported that Maxx Crosby was working under a limited workload, and that approach could stick. As McFadden put it: "Edge rusher Maxx Crosby could be on a pitch count," McFadden writes. "During the Dolphins' third drive, Crosby sat out six consecutive plays."
That setup fits with Crosby’s offseason knee surgery, and the Raiders are clearly trying to be careful with him early. The expectation is that his snap total could climb as the season goes on, but for now, the team seems committed to keeping him fresh instead of overloading him right away.
There’s logic to that plan, especially with the 2026 Raiders not looking like a Super Bowl team. A fringe playoff push feels more realistic this year, with next season appearing to be the more likely window for true contender status.
Even in a restricted role, Crosby still made his presence felt. He finished Week 1 with 1.5 sacks, which is a strong return for a player the Raiders are trying not to wear down.
And he won’t have to carry everything by himself. With Kwity Paye and other edge rushers in the mix, Las Vegas has enough help up front to survive while Crosby is managed carefully.
It may not be the most thrilling sight for fans to watch Crosby take a seat often enough to qualify as being on a pitch count. But from the Raiders’ side, it’s the kind of move that makes sense if the goal is keeping him healthy and available when they need him most.
In Other News...
Kwity Paye Is Already Changing What Raiders Can Do Up Front
Kwity Payes first game with the Raiders gave Las Vegas something it has been looking for up front: another defender who can make the quarterback uncomfortable without needing everything to run through Maxx Crosby. Paye showed up across the stat sheet with sacks, quarterback hits, pressures, tackles and stops, and the bigger takeaway was how quickly he fit into a role that asks him to work alongside Crosby rather than simply chase production on his own.
That pairing matters because Paye also brings versatility, lining up in multiple spots and giving the Raiders more ways to shape their front. For a defense that already leans on Crosby to tilt protections and dictate attention, having another edge presence who can move around changes the way opponents have to prepare. It is early, but the first impression was enough to suggest Las Vegas may have found a front-seven piece that opens up more options than the box score alone can show. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Just Got Early AFC West Hope Few Fans Expected
The Raiders opened the 2026 season with a home win over the Dolphins, and that alone would have been enough to leave Las Vegas feeling better about itself after the summer buildup. What made the first Sunday even more interesting for the AFC West race was the way the rest of the division shook out, with the Chargers falling to the Cardinals while the Chiefs handled the Broncos.
For a fan base that has spent plenty of time looking up at Kansas City, the early standings offered an unusual bit of breathing room. It is only Week 1, of course, and the division still runs through the Chiefs, but the Raiders at least got the kind of start that can keep hope alive longer than most people expected. [Read more 🡒]
Kirk Cousins Just Gave Raiders Fans Real Hope At Quarterback
The Raiders had plenty of questions at quarterback when they brought in veteran Kirk Cousins to serve as the bridge while rookie Fernando Mendoza develops into the long-term answer. In Week 1, Cousins helped settle things down by guiding Las Vegas to a win over the Miami Dolphins, and the bigger takeaway was not just the result but the way he kept the offense on schedule with steady, sustained drives.
For a team staring at a difficult stretch ahead, that kind of competence matters. The plan has been straightforward from the start, with Cousins expected to provide solid play for part of the season while Mendoza gets his footing, but early wins have a way of changing the temperature around a season and making the quarterback conversation feel a little less settled than it did in the summer. [Read more 🡒]