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INTRO/PLAYBOOK
The Raiders have spent months preparing for what Klint Kubiak’s offense could look like with Brock Bowers at its center.
Their first assignment is figuring out what it looks like without him.
With Bowers sidelined following minor knee surgery, Sunday’s season opener against the Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium becomes an immediate test of the Raiders’ depth, their new coach’s adaptability and Michael Mayer’s readiness for a moment that feels overdue.
The fourth-year tight end was already expected to play a substantial role in an offense built to maximize his position group. Now he moves closer to center stage.
Before Bowers became Bowers, Mayer was building his own reputation as one of college football’s elite tight ends at Notre Dame. He arrived in Las Vegas with the credentials to become a foundational offensive piece, only to have his development and opportunities unfold differently than anticipated.
Sunday offers a chance to move that conversation forward.
The Raiders do not need Mayer to duplicate everything that makes Bowers special. They need him to turn his own strengths into production: dependable catches, physical work after the reception and the blocking that helps keep Kubiak’s offense versatile.
They also need help around him.
That starts with a running game expected to provide the foundation for everything Kubiak wants to accomplish. Ashton Jeanty’s effectiveness following his ankle issue will be an important early measure, while rookie Mike Washington Jr. has a chance to translate preseason promise into meaningful contributions.
If the Raiders can consistently gain yards on the ground, they can create manageable situations for Kirk Cousins and make Miami respect the play-action opportunities that follow.
If they cannot, Bowers’ absence becomes considerably harder to navigate.
Cousins represents the other major piece of the equation. The Raiders are counting on his experience and familiarity with the offense to bring order to a group learning how to play together.
But command of the playbook must become command of the game. Cousins needs to deliver on time, recognize opportunities downfield and avoid the mistakes that can put a developing team in an early hole.
The defense faces its own examination.
Maxx Crosby remains the established force, but the Raiders will need their young secondary to communicate and tackle with a level of consistency that preseason games cannot fully measure.
Miami has every reason to test those defensive backs early, looking for hesitation or a missed assignment that can turn a routine play into something damaging.
Overseeing it all is Kubiak, whose responsibilities now extend well beyond finding the right offensive call.
Timeouts, fourth-down decisions, clock management and the emotional temperature of his team all belong to him.
Nobody needs a complete verdict on the Raiders by Sunday afternoon. But they do need evidence that the preparation has produced something functional and competitive.
Winning without their best offensive player would be a convincing place to start.
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Maxx Crosby vs. Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul
Whenever Crosby lines up across from Paul, the Raiders will have a matchup capable of shaping the game.
Paul must contend with more than Crosby’s first move. He has to stay balanced, maintain his technique and finish blocks against a defender whose effort rarely diminishes as a possession wears on.
For Crosby, success extends beyond sacks. Disrupting early-down runs and forcing Miami to provide protection help can put the Dolphins behind schedule and create opportunities for his teammates.
That matters especially to the Raiders’ young secondary. The less time Miami has to let routes develop, the easier its assignment becomes.
Crosby does not need to win every snap. A handful of decisive victories could change the afternoon.
THE PICK
Raiders 24, Dolphins 14
The Raiders generate enough offense on the ground to keep Cousins out of a steady diet of obvious passing situations, and Mayer supplies a few important catches in Bowers’ absence. Crosby helps create the defensive disruption necessary to protect a young secondary, while Las Vegas limits the breakdowns that lead to easy touchdowns. Expect some uneven stretches in Kubiak’s debut, but the Raiders make enough timely plays to give their new coach his first victory.
4 DOWNS
First down: Make the running game matter
The Raiders need productive runs that influence how Miami plays defense. Consistent gains from Jeanty and Washington would help Cousins operate from manageable down-and-distance situations and give Kubiak access to the play-action game. The offensive line must create movement, avoid penalties and prevent negative plays from derailing possessions. Jeanty’s response following his ankle issue bears watching, as does Washington’s ability to carry his preseason momentum into the opener. Without Bowers, the Raiders have less margin for an offense repeatedly facing third-and-long. Establishing the run would make nearly every other assignment easier.
Second down: Keep the kids connected
The Raiders’ young secondary does not have to be flawless. It does have to stay organized. For Darien Porter, Treydan Stukes, Jermod McCoy and Zeke Masses, the challenge is processing what Miami presents without letting uncertainty become hesitation. Motion and shifting formations will test communication, while underneath completions will test tackling. Make the Dolphins earn long drives instead of giving them shortcuts through missed assignments or poor pursuit angles. Just as important is the response to a bad play. Miami will make some catches. The Raiders cannot allow one mistake to become three because a young defender starts pressing.
Third down: Get the dependable Cousins
The Raiders need the version of Cousins who brings clarity to an offense: identifying pressure, getting the ball out on time and recognizing when a modest gain is the right result. They also need him to punish Miami when opportunities arise. The Raiders cannot be so overly cautious in the passing game that they allow defenders to crowd the line of scrimmage. Without Bowers, Cousins must establish trust with Mayer and his other targets early. Converting third downs and finishing drives with touchdowns would validate the decision to put a veteran in charge. Protecting the football is essential.
Fourth down: Kubiak manages the whole game
Kubiak’s first test involves everything surrounding the play sheet. Can the Raiders get personnel on and off the field cleanly? Will they preserve timeouts for moments when they need them? Does he have a clear plan for fourth-down opportunities rather than making those decisions in a rush? An opener can expose organizational weaknesses as quickly as physical ones. Kubiak also sets the tone when adversity arrives. His team needs to see composure and conviction, along with the willingness to adjust. A close fourth quarter would test his preparation as thoroughly as anything Miami’s defense puts in front of him.
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