The Las Vegas Raiders kick off their season Sunday when they host the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium.
This marks the first regular-season game for new coach Klint Kubiak, who took over following a three-win season. This also will be the debut of first-year Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley.
Both teams are in rebuilding mode but will look to get things off on the right foot with a victory.
The Raiders will be without star tight end Brock Bowers, who had minor surgery on his left knee and was ruled out. But running back Ashton Jeanty is expected to go after he sustained an ankle injury during training camp.
Malik Willis will start at quarterback for the Dolphins after he signed a three-year contract in the offseason as a free agent.
Here is what happened:
Raiders open with victory
Ashton Jeanty carried the offense with 147 total yards to go with two receiving touchdowns, and quarterback Kirk Cousins tossed three TDs to offset two interceptions as the Raiders downed the Dolphins in the season opener.
Raiders 27, Dolphins 13, final
Cousins makes another mistake
Kirk Cousins forces another throw over the middle intended for Jalen Nailor and this time it’s
Dante Trader Jr. who snags the interception for the Dolphins, who take over at the Raiders’ 44.
That’s the second pick Cousins has thrown.
Raiders 27, Dolphins 13, 11:22 remaining 4th quarter
End of 3rd quarter
The Raiders are 15 minutes from the first victory in the Klint Kubiak era.
Raiders 27, Dolphins 13
Dolphins miss FG after long return
Jaylen Wright sets up the Dolphins deep in Raiders territory after a 79-yard kickoff return. But it’s all for naught after Riley Patterson hooks a 41-yard attempt wide left.
Credit Raiders special teams player Cody White, who was elevated from the practice squad for the game, with the touchdown-saving tackle.
Raiders 27, Dolphins 13, 0:07 remaining 3rd quarter
Gay hits FG
The Raiders offense marches deep into Dolphins territory behind Ashton Jeanty, but the drive stalls in the red zone as Kirk Cousins continues to dink and dunk.
Matt Gay knocks through a 30-yard field goal after an offside penalty to add to the Raiders lead.
Raiders 27, Dolphins 13, 2:34 remaining 3rd quarter
Rookie snags interception
Dolphins QB Malik Willis takes a deep shot but Treydan Stukes is there playing center field to come down with the interception for the Raiders.
It’s the first career pick for the rookie second-round pick out of Arizona.
Raiders 24, Dolphins 13, 9:41 remaining 3rd quarter
Jeanty scores 2nd TD
Ashton Jeanty slips out of the backfield and hauls in the Kirk Cousins pass before fighting his way into the end zone for a 13-yard score. It’s his second receiving touchdown of the day and Cousins’ third passing TD.
The Raiders are back up by two scores and the game is getting close to the total of 40½.
Raiders 24, Dolphins 13, 9:58 remaining 3rd quarter
Dolphins cash in on Cousins INT
Malik Willis dropped back to pass and looked to his left but found open space to his right and scrambled 14 yards for a Dolphins touchdown.
The Kirk Cousins interception proves costly for the Raiders.
Raiders 17, Dolphins 13, 12:44 remaining 3rd quarter
Cousins picked off
Kirk Cousins makes his first bad throw of the day, forcing a ball to Jack Bech over the middle.
Rookie safety Michael Taaffe is there to make the interception and the Dolphins take over in plus territory with a chance to make it a one-score game.
Raiders 17, Dolphins 6, 14:29 remaining 3rd quarter
3rd quarter underway
The Raiders will have the ball to start the second half.
Dolphins kick FG before halftime
Malik Willis took advantage of some soft coverage from the Raiders and drove the Dolphins into field-goal range. Caleb Douglas had two key receptions on the drive.
Riley Patterson nailed the kick from 37 yards and the Dolphins head into the locker room with a bit of momentum.
But that was still a solid first half from the Raiders, who were able to run the ball effectively and add some efficient plays through the air.
Raiders 17, Dolphins 6, halftime
Cousins throws 300th career TD
The Raiders offense continues to hum. This time it’s Ashton Jeanty coming out of the backfield and hauling in the Kirk Cousins pass for a 13-yard score. Jeanty beat the coverage of Chris Johnson on the play.
That’s the 300th career touchdown pass for Cousins, who is now 14 of 17 for 96 yards and two TDs, unofficially.
Raiders 17, Dolphins 3, 1:07 remaining 2nd quarter
2-minute warning
The Raiders’ running game continues to be effective with Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. during this fast-moving first half. They’re driving with a chance to extend the lead before halftime.
Raiders 10, Dolphins 3, 2:00 remaining 2nd quarter
Dolphins kick FG
The Raiders defense bent but didn’t break on that drive as the Dolphins shot themselves in the foot with two key holding penalties.
Riley Patterson sends a 41-yard field goal through the uprights and Miami is on the board.
Raiders 10, Dolphins 3, 4:08 remaining 2nd quarter
Replay helps Raiders again, leads to FG
Michael Mayer, who signed a three-year contract extension Saturday, fumbled on third down after being stopped short of the line to gain.
But after review, Mayer was ruled down and the play was overturned. It’s the second time replay has helped the Raiders, who retained possession and settled for a 47-yard field goal by Matt Gay.
Raiders 10, Dolphins 0, 10:22 remaining 2nd quarter
End of 1st quarter
The Raiders are off to a good start, scoring on their first drive and heating up Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis. Miami unofficially with 31 yards on 10 plays in the first quarter.
Raiders 7, Dolphins 0
Raiders take early lead
That was an impressive drive by the Raiders and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Jack Bech finds a soft spot in the Dolphins secondary and finds the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown.
Cousins went 9-for-9 for 63 yards on the 16-play, 93-yard drive that took almost nine minutes off the clock.
Raiders 7, Dolphins 0, 1:33 remaining 1st quarter
Raiders get 1st down on Tush Push
The Raiders passed on a long field goal and showed a unique look on fourth and short with fullback Connor Heyward under center. Heyward was stuffed in Dolphins territory and the Raiders appeared to turn over the ball on downs.
The play was reviewed and overturned, though, giving the Raiders a first down at the Miami 33.
Raiders 0, Dolphins 0, 4:25 remaining 1st quarter
Raiders get stop
The Dolphins ran eight plays and had two first downs but the Raiders defense held and was able to force a punt on the first possession.
Raiders 0, Dolphins 0, 10:31 remaining 1st quarter
Raiders win coin toss
The Raiders won the coin toss and deferred. They will kick off to open the game and the Dolphins get the ball first.
Mendoza to be backup QB
The Raiders will be without star tight end Brock Bowers when they host the Dolphins in Sunday’s season-opening game at Allegiant Stadium, as expected.
Bowers leads the list of inactives, released by the team 90 minutes before the scheduled 1:25 p.m. kickoff.
Aidan O’Connell will serve as the emergency quarterback, which means rookie top pick Fernando Mendoza would enter the game should anything happen to veteran starter Kirk Cousins.
Cornerback Darrell Luter Jr., safety Dalton Johnson, linebacker Cody Lindenberg and guard Bryce Cabeldue round out the list of inactives. Cabeldue was claimed off waivers this week from the Seahawks, where he played for Kubiak and offensive line coach Rick Dennison.
The Raiders activated tight end Chris Myarick and wide receiver Cody White from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
— Adam Hill
Cousins ready to lead Raiders
Kirk Cousins has earned the right to start Sunday for the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium opposite the Miami Dolphins, a Week 1 starter in his 15th season.
The former fourth-round draft pick who began his career as a backup to Robert Griffin III is wily, poised and accurate enough to keep future franchise quarterback and top draft pick Fernando Mendoza sidelined for now.
As the NFL’s third-oldest starting quarterback, Cousins ranks 12th all-time in passer rating (96.8), 15th all-time in touchdown passes (298), 19th all-time in passing yards (44,700) and seventh all-time in completion percentage (66.7). A torn right Achilles couldn’t stop him from starting, nor could a benching in Atlanta.
— Sam Gordon
Last meeting
Nov. 17, 2024 — Tua Tagovailoa threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns as the Dolphins pulled away for a 34-19 home win over the Raiders.
Miami scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to close out the victory.
Tight end Jonnu Smith had six catches for 101 yards and De’Von Achane added 73 rushing yards and a touchdown in the victory.
Brock Bowers erupted with 13 catches for 126 yards and a score.
— Adam Hill
Raiders vs Dolphins channel, TV schedule
Kickoff: 1:25 p.m.
Location: Allegiant Stadium
TV: Fox (Chris Myers, play-by-play; Mark Schlereth, analyst)
Streaming: NFL+
Radio: KRLV-AM (920), KOMP-FM (92.3) (Jason Horowitz, play-by-play; Kirk Morrison, analyst)
Raiders vs Dolphins odds
Spread: Raiders -3
Over/under: 40½ points
Moneyline: Dolphins (+140), Raiders (-170)
Odds are provided by Caesars sportsbook as of Sunday morning.
Raiders schedule 2026
Week 1, Sunday: vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:25 p.m., Fox
Week 2, Sept. 20: at Los Angeles Chargers, 1:05 p.m., CBS
Week 3, Sept. 27: at New Orleans Saints, 1:25 p.m., CBS
Week 4, Oct. 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1:25 p.m., CBS
Week 5, Oct. 11: at New England Patriots, 10 a.m., CBS
Week 6, Oct. 18: vs. Buffalo Bills, 1:25 p.m., CBS
Week 7, Oct. 25: vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., Fox
Week 8, Nov. 1: at New York Jets, 10 a.m., Fox
Week 9, Nov. 8: at San Francisco 49ers, 1:05 p.m., CBS
Week 10, Nov. 15: vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m., CBS
Week 11, Nov. 22: at Denver Broncos , 1:25 p.m., CBS
Week 12, Nov. 29: at Cleveland Browns, 10 a.m., Fox
Week 13, Dec. 6: Bye
Week 14, Dec. 13: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1:05 p.m., CBS
Week 15, Dec. 20: vs. Denver Broncos, 1:25 p.m., CBS
Week 16, Dec. 27: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1:05 p.m., Fox
Week 17, Jan. 3: at Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m., Fox
Week 18, Jan. 9 or Jan. 10: at Kansas City Chiefs, time and network TBD
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on X.