The Raiders head into Week 1 with a chance to start changing the conversation, and the matchup with the Miami Dolphins gives them a clear set of jobs to handle.
First, Las Vegas simply has to take care of business. With the 2026 season opener against a Dolphins team described as arguably the worst in the league, this is the kind of game the Raiders cannot let slip away.
Miami’s massive dead cap hit only sharpens that point, with the Dolphins paying Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Bradley Chubb, and Jalen Ramsey to not play for them. For a Raiders team facing a difficult schedule, this is one of those favorable spots it has to cash in on.
There’s also a bigger chance here for the offense to settle on a direction at wide receiver. General manager John Spytek spent the offseason making plenty of noise, but the receiver room still looks unsettled.
Jalen Nailor was the biggest free-agent addition, while rookie Malik Benson has turned heads in training camp and the preseason. Jack Bech and Tre Tucker are in the mix as well, and one of those players needs to emerge as the clear outside target.
Brock Bowers remains the centerpiece, but the Raiders need another pass catcher defenses have to account for.
The third piece is up front, where the offensive line has been rebuilt and needs to start acting like it. Klint Kubiak’s system leans on the line and the run game, and with Kirk Cousins’ immobility obvious, protection matters even more if the offense wants to stay on schedule.
The Raiders struggled to keep the quarterback upright a season ago, and the front office answered by making Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in the league. Week 1 is about more than surviving; it’s about the line building some real cohesion and confidence.
In Other News...
Raiders QB Plan Already Comes With One Big Problem
The Raiders have already settled one of the biggest questions of their 2026 offseason, and the answer comes with a familiar kind of comfort. Klint Kubiak is going with Kirk Cousins as the starter over rookie Fernando Mendoza and Aidan OConnell, banking on Cousins experience and leadership to steady a team that has spent too much time searching for stability under center.
But the move only makes sense if the protection holds up, and that is where the real concern starts to creep in. Las Vegas is still dealing with questions along the offensive line, and if that group cannot keep the pocket clean, the safer long-term bet may wind up being Mendoza anyway, especially if the Raiders want a quarterback who can grow with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Get Encouraging Ashton Jeanty Update Before A Big Backfield Decision
Ashton Jeantys sprained ankle has been trending in the right direction since Aug. 23, and the early read out of his recovery is enough to keep the Raiders optimistic heading into opening week. ESPNs Adam Schefter reported that Jeanty is on track to potentially be available for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, a development that matters not just because of his health, but because of what he was expected to bring to Las Vegas offense right away.
Mike Washington Jr. made a strong enough impression in the preseason to complicate the backfield picture, and the Raiders now have a decision to make if Jeanty is ready in time. The possibility of a timeshare would give the staff options, but it also puts a spotlight on how quickly Jeanty can get back to full strength and whether the team wants to ease him in or lean on the rookie duo from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offensive Staff Overhaul Says Everything About Last Seasons Problems
The Raiders offseason work on offense has pointed back to one of the biggest reasons last season went sideways: the line never stabilized, and the coaching behind it drew harsh internal reviews. Las Vegas answered by bringing in Rick Dennison to coach the offensive line, a move aimed at tightening up fundamentals and technique after a year in which the units performance never really settled into place.
Mike Sullivans arrival as quarterbacks coach adds another layer to the reset, giving the staff a veteran voice with plenty of NFL experience and a prior working relationship with offensive coordinator Kubiak. It is the kind of staff reshaping that tells you the Raiders did not view last seasons offensive problems as a matter of one bad stretch or one injured player, but as something deeper that needed a full coaching rethink. [Read more 🡒]