Raiders Week 1 Ballers & Busters on offense vs Dolphins - Raiders Wire

The Raiders opened the season on a high note, leading from start to finish to beat the Dolphins 27-13. And showing that they are indeed a year ahead of the Dolphins in the rebuild. So, as you might expect, there were many solid performances to talk about.

This edition of Ballers & Busters we're going to split of the different units. Starting with the offense

Jeanty got his expected breakout season started with a breakout performance. The second-year back ran for 102 yards while catching six passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Looking every bit the talent that earned him being selected at sixth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Stepping up to be the Raiders' everything tight end. Mayer gets credit for tying for the team lead with six catches for 32 yards, but what was even more impressive than his work through the air was his work as a blocker on runs. He was a big part of a solid gameplan that opened up holes in the run game all game long. And in one case, pushing the back for the first down on fourth and one.

These two were putting in the some work in the run game as well. Time and time again they had their way with defenders to give Jeanty room to run and time to find his crease and follow his blocks. Linderbaum's impact on this group is immense and from the looks of it, he and JPJ will have some fun working together this season.

Kirk Cousins had all day to throw and was rarely even threatened in the pocket. Miller and Glaze locked out all comers while a few times laying key blocks in the run game as well.

Kubiak's gameplan was masterful. The way the tight ends and wide receivers were all utilized in blocking and the way he used the play action worked to perfection. The only flaws came in the form of a few bad passes. But there were enough really good passes and plenty of great runs to get get a comfortable lead heading into the fourth quarter.

While most of the blocking was superb, there was a weak link. On th third play of the Raiders first drive, he gave up a tackle for loss on a Jeanty run to put the Raiders in third and long. They were luckily able to get out of it and drive for a touchdown. On a drive late in the second quarter he missed his block to get Jeanty tackled again, this time on a catch that went for two yards to set up another third and long. The Raiders again got out of it to go for a touchdown.

The second play of the third quarter saw Kirk Cousins throw his first interception. On the play, Burford was driven back right into Cousins' face, possibly impacting the follow-thru on the throw. He would miss another block to give up a tackle for no gain in the fourth quarter.