The Miami Dolphins came out of Week 1 with a loss to the Raiders, but the bigger takeaway is that the young roster showed more than a few signs of life. The result was disappointing. The performance underneath it was more complicated.
The rookie class made its presence felt right away. Caleb Douglas caught 5 of 7 targets for 94 yards and looked physical, polished and capable as a run blocker.
Jacob Rodriguez piled up 14 tackles, the most by a Dolphins rookie since Zach Thomas’ 16 in 1996. Chris Johnson added 11 tackles and 2 passes defensed, while rookie Michael Taaffe and second-year safety Dante Trader each came away with interceptions.
Trader also graded as PFF’s top-rated Dolphin, posting a 91.8 defensive grade, two points better than Jordyn Brooks. It wasn’t flawless, but for a roster with an average age of 25.3 years, the youth showed up ready to play.
That said, the trenches were a problem on both sides. Miami had trouble running the ball, with Achane finishing with 11 carries for 36 yards, and Malik Willis was sacked 5 times.
The defense couldn’t generate pressure on Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is 85 years old and needs a walker to cross the street. The Dolphins finished with zero sacks, and Chop Robinson ended the game with exactly 1 tackle.
Riley Patterson had 2 tackles for the game, and he’s the kicker. The kicker!
Maybe we should put him on the defensive line!
To be fair, Robinson might have suffered a concussion during the game. Even so, Jeff Hafley’s defenses have usually done a good job against the run and have forced opponents into tough down-and-distance situations. That wasn’t the story against the Raiders, who moved the ball too easily.
Willis’ final numbers didn’t tell the full story. He entered the season with only 155 career passes, and while he had shown flashes in Green Bay, much of that came against defenses preparing for Jordan Love.
The real question was how he would look running an offense built around him. The answer: uneven, but encouraging enough to work with.
He hit some strong NFL throws, especially down the sidelines, showed decent processing and added a touchdown run with his legs. At the same time, he held the ball longer than 3 seconds on average, which played a big part in the 5 sacks.
He also missed some easy throws and seemed to force the interception. Still, there was more good than the box score suggested.
The coaches deserve their share of the scrutiny too. There’s a lot of faith in Coach Hafley, and the team already appears to have more heart and discipline than it showed at any point with Mike McDaniel.
The fact that Miami actually won a challenge only adds to the feeling that the team is playing with house money. Offensively, though, the game plan didn’t seem ready for the Raiders, one of the easiest teams the Dolphins will see this year.
The offense had runs and deep balls, but not enough in between to slow down the pass rush. Special teams also failed to hold up, with the Raiders repeatedly starting drives near midfield.
It’s only one game, and with so many first- and second-year players on the field, ugly moments are going to happen. But it’s worth watching.
Even with the loss, Miami wasn’t outclassed. The Dolphins left too many plays on the field.
Caleb Douglas had room for an even bigger debut. Willis narrowly missed several explosive plays.
Some scramble-drill chances never connected because the quarterback and receivers weren’t on the same page. A tipped pass late could have turned into a touchdown.
On defense, a handful of busted assignments were one step away from becoming stops.
The margin was there all game: a step late, a yard short, a read away. That doesn’t change the loss, but it does mean there’s something real to build on.
In Other News...
Jordyn Brooks Sent Dolphins Fans A Message Before This Brutal Stretch
Jordyn Brooks did not spend much time dwelling on the disappointment after Miamis loss to the 49ers. Speaking to the media, the linebacker pointed to the roster the Dolphins have in place and expressed confidence the group will get better as the season goes on, even if the early results have not matched the expectations around the team.
Brooks also acknowledged the mistakes that showed up, especially in the second half, while stressing that the defense is still fighting and making progress. With the Chiefs and Vikings next on the schedule, Miami is headed into a difficult stretch, and Brooks message was clear: the Dolphins believe they have the right pieces to steady things before the calendar gets any more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rebuild Could Hinge On Jon-Eric Sullivans Biggest Decision
The Dolphins long-term rebuilding picture is already starting to take shape around the 2027 NFL Draft, where a chance at the first overall pick would put Miami in position to reset the most important spot on the field. If that happens, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan would be staring at a franchise-altering decision with a premium quarterback class potentially in play, including names like Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Jeremiah Smith. For a team still sorting through its present quarterback situation, the draft board could become the clearest path toward changing the direction of the roster.
Sullivan would not be limited to simply making the pick, either. The article lays out a few possible routes, including moving the selection within the division or working a deal with other clubs such as the Jets or Browns if the board and market line up that way. Each option carries its own risk, and the Dolphins next season will matter not just for wins and losses, but for how much leverage they can create when the time comes to make the biggest call of the rebuild. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Loss Exposed Two Problems Miami Still Hasn't Fixed
The Dolphins left Levis Stadium with a familiar mix of promise and frustration, a game that showed a little progress in one area while underscoring how much still needs cleaning up. Miamis run defense held up better than it had at times, and DeVon Achane was more involved on offense, but those gains were overshadowed by bigger issues that kept surfacing against San Francisco.
Pass coverage and pass protection were both problems, and the penalties only made the day harder. The 49ers scored touchdowns on each of their first five possessions, while Miami went through another game without a sack, a stretch that has put the defenses effectiveness and the teams overall competitiveness under a brighter, less flattering light. [Read more 🡒]