Raiders-Dolphins predictions
Adam Hill (0-0)
Raiders beat reporter
It has been a long and busy offseason for the Raiders, who enter the Klint Kubiak era with a great deal of optimism for the future. The Raiders aren’t good yet, but they do get the benefit of drawing a Dolphins team that is even further away from contention. Miami is dedicating 60 percent of its salary cap to players no longer on the roster this season, a record-setting $182.8 million. The Raiders don’t have many games on the roster that they should be expected to win. This is one of them.
Score: Raiders 27, Dolphins 17
Sam Gordon (0-0)
Raiders beat reporter
Las Vegas is further along in its rebuild, armed with more talent even down Brock Bowers.
Score: Raiders 24, Dolphins 20
Ed Graney (0-0)
Columnist
The key here is that the Raiders’ management is doing the right thing in building for the future. But there will be games this season where they must win to show progress from last year’s nightmare finish of three wins. This is definitely one of them. The Dolphins aren’t any good, and while the Raiders are a long way from contending, there is a sense of confidence with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins running the offense. Brock Bowers (knee) missing the game will hurt, but there is enough here to beat a sad Miami side.
Score: Raiders 28, Dolphins 14
Bill Bradley (0-0)
Sports editor
The Raiders received the unique gift from the NFL schedule makers that they will play every game in the daytime on Sundays. No prime time, no night time. They might have received a bigger gift by playing the Miami Dolphins in the season-opening game on Sunday. The Dolphins, along with the Arizona Cardinals, are expected to be vying for the Arch Manning Trophy, aka, the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL draft. After all of the positive changes the Raiders made during the offseason, there will be a lot of questions in Henderson if they can’t beat the Dolphins.
Score: Raiders 34, Dolphins 13
Richard Bush (0-0)
Assistant Sports Editor
I found out this week that the Dolphins are a bigger betting long shot to win the Super Bowl than my Panthers. That’s not a spot you want to be in. The Raiders are building for the future, but this is one game they need to win now. And a new coach, a new quarterback and a new attitide should be able to get it done. And it really shouldn’t be very difficult. The 2026 season gets off to a positive start.
Score: Raiders 28, Dolphins 14
