The Raiders didn’t just beat the Dolphins in Week 1. They gave fans something they’ve been waiting to see for a long time: a team that looked organized, balanced, and capable of handling a game in more than one way.
That matters because Las Vegas has spent recent seasons looking shaky under previous regimes. In Klint Kubiak’s first game as head coach, the Raiders came out with a level of competence that stood out immediately. They were sharp in the early going, steady after halftime, and good enough in enough phases to keep Miami from ever fully taking control.
It started with the defense. Las Vegas opened the game by forcing two straight punts, and those early stops set the tone. The Raiders made life difficult for Malik Willis and the Dolphins’ offense from the jump, and the pressure never really eased.
The offense did its part, too. After those two punts, Las Vegas put 10 points on the board and built a cushion that held up the rest of the afternoon. By halftime, the Raiders were up 17-6, and they never surrendered that lead.
What stood out just as much was how they handled the second half. Miami made adjustments, and Las Vegas did too.
The pace changed a bit after intermission, but the Raiders still controlled the game through defense and time of possession. That kind of response is a big deal for a team that lacked the ability to adjust last season.
Under Kubiak, the Raiders looked like a team that can win in different styles. They nearly reached 30 points, but they also chewed clock and leaned on long drives while the defense kept delivering stops. That’s complementary football, and Sunday was a strong example of it.
The challenge gets tougher fast. Las Vegas is on the road next week against the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that has had the Raiders’ number in recent years. The Raiders haven’t beaten the Chargers at SoFi Stadium since fans were allowed back in post-COVID, and their last win in Los Angeles came in 2020.
So the task in Week 2 is a different one entirely. It’s a divisional matchup, on the road, against an opponent that has consistently made life difficult. But the Raiders will also bring a very different team and staff to California than the one that has gone there before.
A 2-0 start would mean plenty for a team working through the early stages of a rebuild, especially with a difficult stretch looming in a few weeks. Wins like Sunday’s are important. A win over the Chargers would be even bigger.
There’s still a long way to go, and plenty of room for improvement. The Raiders are taking it week by week and game by game, and Kubiak will make sure nobody gets carried away. But after Week 1, one thing is clear: Las Vegas looked more competent than it has in a long time, and that alone changes the feel around this team.
In Other News...
Raiders Could Walk Into A Chargers Situation Ready To Boil Over
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For the Raiders, that kind of uncertainty is worth watching closely because it echoes a coaching mismatch they have already lived through. Las Vegas has seen how quickly a promising setup can turn messy when the people running the show are not fully aligned, and a trip into a division rivalry that already feels unsettled could be the kind of spot where small disagreements start to look a lot bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Just Gave Fans A Real Reason To Believe Again
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Just as encouraging was the way the defense carried its share of the load, with Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Treydan Stukes helping pressure Miami and keep the matchup tilted in the Raiders favor. The offensive line also held up well enough to keep Cousins clean through three quarters, which matters for a team trying to build something sustainable rather than survive week to week. If this is the baseline, the more interesting question is how far the Raiders can push it once the details around this new look keep settling in. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans Just Got A Clearer Read On Fernando Mendoza
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Cousins handled every snap in the game, and Mendoza was observed following along closely from the sideline throughout the afternoon. For now, that leaves the Raiders with a very defined pecking order under center and a rookie quarterback situation that appears to be more about patience than urgency, even if the long-term conversation around Mendoza is still very much alive. [Read more 🡒]