Las Vegas Raiders vs Miami Dolphins: Recap - NFL Week 1 - 2026 |

The Raiders Finally Fixed Their Biggest Problem: Why the Offensive Line Could Define their Season

Sometimes the biggest story in football isn’t the player scoring the touchdown. Sometimes, it’s the players making sure that touchdown has a chance to happen. For the Las Vegas Raiders, that story was their offensive line. In Sunday’s 27-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins, the Raiders did something that had been a major struggle throughout last season. They protected their quarterback and created running lanes for their running backs.

Kirk Cousins finished his Raiders debut with three touchdown passes despite throwing two interceptions, while Ashton Jeanty rushed for 102 yards and added two receiving touchdowns. Those performances deserve a ton of attention, but the foundation of the offense was definitely built in the trenches. The Raiders allowed zero sacks and just two quarterback hits against Miami, while averaging nearly 4.9 yards per carry. For a team that majorly struggled to protect its quarterback last season, the difference was drastic.

And it could be the difference maker moving forward.

Las Vegas entered the offseason with questions at nearly every position. But one issue stood above the rest: that offensive line. No matter how talented a quarterback or running back is, an offense cannot reach its potential when players are constantly getting hit at the line of scrimmage.

Against Miami, the Raiders looked different.

Jeanty had room to operate, Cousins had time to throw, and the offense developed a rhythm that was missing last season. That improvement could make Jeanty the centerpiece of Kubiak‘s system. His ability to contribute both as a runner and receiver makes him one of the most versatile weapons on this roster, but his effectiveness will depend on the blocking in front of him.

Game Summary: Las Vegas Raiders vs Miami Dolphins

The Las Vegas Raiders’ 27-13 win over Miami was about more than Kirk Cousins and Ashton Jeanty. For the first time in a long time, the Raiders’ offensive line looked like a strength.

Cousins Doesn’t Need to Be Superman

Cousins wasn’t perfect in his debut. He did throw two interceptions and finished with 160 passing yards.

But he also completed 21 of 30 passes and had himself a day with three touchdowns.

More importantly, he didn’t have to do everything himself.

With better protection and a reliable running game, Cousins can focus on managing the offense rather than constantly trying to make up for failed assignments and mistakes around him.

That is exactly what the Raiders need from a veteran quarterback.

One Game, Bigger Implications

It would be too early to state that this offensive line is completely fixed after one game. The Raiders will face tougher defensive fronts, possible injuries, and a lot of adjustments throughout the season.

But improvement has to start somewhere.

Today’s victory showed that Las Vegas may finally be building the kind of foundation needed to win games. The defense held Miami to 13 points, the offense controlled the clock, and the team played with a physicality that has been missing in recent years.

Jeanty may be the face of this offense. Cousins may be its veteran leader.

But the offensive line is the piece that ultimately determines how far the Raiders go this season. In football, games are won in the trenches; it is a well-known, well-believed statement. On Sunday, Las Vegas finally looked like a team ready to win in those trenches.

Post-Game

“The run game just kept us in favorable downs and distances throughout much of the game,” Cousins said. “The way we ran the football to start the game, it just made everything easier. It kind of opened up much of the rest of our offense. Anytime we can run the football like that, it puts us with a wind at our back… Great protection, so that’s what we love to see.”

The line in front of him was rebuilt in the offseason around center Tyler Linderbaum and left guard Spencer Burford, with a healthy Kolton Miller back at left tackle and Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze holding down the right side. Klint Kubiak was not ready to hand out grades after one game. “We ran the ball well. We were effective. We can still keep getting better,” Kubiak said. “But I saw the same guys I saw in practice, so they’re taking practice to the field.”

Cousins opened the game with a 16-play, 93-yard touchdown drive and completed his first 10 passes. “Being able to string long drives together is a sign of a mature offense,” Kirk Cousins said. “It’s being able to string plays together where we’re not going backwards. Not having negative plays or mental errors or penalties. That’s a key part of playing winning football in this league.”

Kubiak called the two interceptions “decisions that he’s got to have back,” but said his quarterback arrived “ready to play.” “That’s the nature of the position,” Kubiak said. “That’s something we’re going to get fixed and cleaned up, but overall he played winning football.”

“Certainly the turnovers are disappointing. Those are on me,” Cousins said. “There’s certainly some plays in the second half we’d love to have back so credit Miami’s defense for doing some good stuff. But we’ll learn from it and have some good meetings to talk through it. But great to get our first win and to get with the guys and be able to celebrate.”

TOP PERFORMERS

TEAM STATS

Field Goals 2-2 | Red Zone 3-4 | Third Down 5-13 | Turnovers 2 | Attendance 62,541

Next up: Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, September 20, 2026, 1:05 p.m. PT, SoFi Stadium, CBS

Franchise Sports Media. Las Vegas sports news about Las Vegas Sports teams.

– Jordan Vega – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Jordan on Instagram: @jordantvegas

Photography by Trisha LaCoste (@trisha_lacoste) for Franchise Sports Media

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