How the Las Vegas Raiders performed in a 27-13 win over the Miami Dolphins in Sunday’s season-opening game at Allegiant Stadium:
Offense: B-
The Raiders did a whole lot of things right on offense.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins came out and opened his tenure with the organization by engineering the kind of efficient touchdown drive this team has been working on all summer.
The Raiders went 93 yards on 16 plays as Cousins hit all nine pass attempts before finding Jack Bech for the score. It was a thing of beauty, though there were hiccups as the game wore on. The offensive line looked much improved as the Raiders were able to run the ball well most of the day.
Cousins did throw two interceptions, however. They didn’t prove costly, but this offense needs to avoid mistakes to be effective.
Defense: B+
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard mixed coverages well and his players executed.
Much of the focus was on containing Miami’s two most explosive players, Malik Willis and De’Von Achane. Mission accomplished. Achane, one of the most dynamic running backs in the league, never got going. Willis wasn’t able to get out of the pocket where he is most dangerous as a playmaker.
The Raiders forced two turnovers and the line was dominant at times, generating five sacks.
Special teams: B
The kickoff coverage was very good for most of the night as the Dolphins started at the 25-yard line or worse after three of the first five Matt Gay kicks.
Gay even unveiled the switch kick he has been working on during practice where he approaches in his traditional run up and then flips his hips to kick off with the left foot. He bounced it several times in the landing zone and created a difficult return for Miami, which got it out only to the 23-yard line.
Then came a breakdown late in the third quarter that allowed Jaylen Wright to get free for a 79-yard return, though the Raiders got bailed out by a missed field goal.
Malik Benson looked dangerous on punt returns and Dylan Laube had two long kick returns to create great field position. The Raiders were fundamentally sound on special teams the rest of the day apart from lining up offside on a field-goal attempt and an illegal snap call.
AJ Cole wasn’t even needed until the fourth quarter, but he was spectacular with a 62.7-yard average and one punt downed inside the 5-yard line.
Coaching: A-
Klint Kubiak was presented with a decision on the first offensive drive of his coaching career.
Though it wasn’t a terribly difficult one, Kubiak made the right choice by keeping his offense on the field on a fourth-and-1 from the Miami 34-yard line. The Raiders were originally ruled short, but kept the ball after a review and scored a touchdown.
Kubiak wanted to see his team play a clean game and it did for the most part. The Raiders committed six penalties, but several were late when the game started to get sloppy.
They had a sound game plan in all three phases and executed to secure Kubiak his first career win, though penalty for 12 men on the field could be a topic of conversation in the meeting room on Monday.
Adam Hill Review-Journal
