Raiders vs. Dolphins preview: How they match up, injuries, bold predictions

Raiders vs. Dolphins preview: How they match up, injuries, bold predictions The Las Vegas Raiders, still in a rebuilding phase, host the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday at 1:25 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox with Chris Myers handling play‑by‑play and Mark Schlereth as analyst; radio coverage will be provided by KRLV‑AM 920 and KOMP‑FM 92.3, featuring Jason Horowitz on play‑by‑play and Kirk Morrison as analyst. Las Vegas enters as a 3½‑point favorite, with the over/under set at 40½ points. Both clubs are working toward establishing a foundation for future success, though neither is viewed as a playoff contender this season. The arrival of a new year typically sparks optimism, and the Raiders are pinning their hopes on first‑year head coach Klint Kubiak, the franchise’s fourth opening‑game head coach in four seasons, to deliver a positive start to his tenure. **Series history** Miami has won four of the last five meetings, evening the all‑time series at 21‑21‑1. That stretch includes four postseason contests, three of which were won by Las Vegas. The Dolphins’ sole playoff victory in the series came in the 1973 AFC Championship Game, a 27‑10 triumph that preceded their second straight Super Bowl win. **Last meeting** On Nov. 17, 2024, Tua Tagovailoa passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns as Miami pulled away for a 34‑19 home win over the Raiders. The Dolphins sealed the outcome with 17 points in the fourth quarter. Jonnu Smith contributed six receptions for 101 yards, while De’Von Achane added 73 rushing yards and a score. Brock Bowers finished with 13 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. **Bold predictions** 1. Michael Mayer, Tre Tucker and Ashton Jeanty will each record at least five catches as the Raiders look to distribute the ball in Bowers’ absence. 2. Tonka Hemingway will follow a productive offseason by sacking Malik Willis. 3. Rookie cornerback Treydan Stukes will either force or recover a fumble during his NFL debut. **Storyline** Las Vegas opens the season against one of the few teams projected to finish with fewer wins than the Raiders in 2024. Miami is undergoing a full rebuild and has accelerated the process by allocating significant dead‑cap space this year. Consequently, the Dolphins are paying roughly $180 million to players no longer on the roster, meaning less than half of their salary cap is devoted to the squad that will face Las Vegas on Sunday. The strategy aims to absorb the impact of past failed contracts and position the franchise for future competitiveness, though it leaves the current roster thin. Miami, under first‑year head coach Jeff Hafley, will likely be overmatched early in the campaign. The Dolphins field the league’s youngest roster and will start an NFL‑high 13 rookies, five of whom are projected to be starters. Las Vegas is not yet an established powerhouse either. Second‑year general manager John Spytek hired Kubiak after a failed attempt at a rapid turnaround with Pete Carroll the previous season. Spytek and Kubiak now share a long‑term vision that eventually will see quarterback Fernando Mendoza assume a leading role. For the time being, veteran Kirk Cousins will mentor Mendoza and steady the young offense. **When the Dolphins have the ball** Questions about Miami’s offense far outnumber answers. Bobby Slowik, retained from the previous staff and promoted to offensive coordinator, brings a scheme familiar to Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard from his time with the Houston Texans. Slowik will work with two dynamic playmakers, beginning with running back De’Von Achane. Leonard emphasized the challenge posed by Achane: “(Discipline is) everything. Gap integrity,” he said. “It’s going to take all 11 when you’re dealing with that kind of speed. It just is what it is. It always does, but it takes all 11. It’s not going to be on one guy this week for sure.” Leonard will also be tasked with containing newcomer Malik Willis, the dual‑threat quarterback who showed flashes of explosiveness in limited action with Green Bay last season before signing a free‑agent deal with Miami. Leonard described Willis as “a