INTRO/PLAYBOOK
For months, the Raiders have been mapping out an offense under coordinator Klint Kubiak that features Brock Bowers as a central weapon.
Now, before that plan can fully take shape, Las Vegas must adjust to life without its standout tight end.
Bowers will miss Sunday’s season-opening matchup with the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium after undergoing minor knee surgery, placing an immediate spotlight on the Raiders’ roster depth, Kubiak’s ability to adapt and Michael Mayer’s preparedness for an expanded opportunity.
The fourth-year tight end was already in line for a meaningful role in a scheme designed to lean heavily on the position. With Bowers unavailable, Mayer’s importance rises even further.
Long before Bowers emerged as one of football’s most dynamic young tight ends, Mayer was creating plenty of buzz himself at Notre Dame, where he established himself among the best players at his position in college football. He entered the NFL with Las Vegas carrying the profile of a future cornerstone, though his path to consistent production has not unfolded quite as expected.
The Raiders-Dolphins opener gives him an opportunity to reshape that narrative.
Las Vegas is not asking Mayer to replicate Bowers’ unique skill set. Instead, the Raiders need him to deliver in the areas that define his own game: reliable hands, toughness after the catch and the punishing blocking that can preserve the flexibility of Kubiak’s offensive system.
Still, Mayer cannot be expected to carry the burden alone.
The running game is expected to be the engine behind much of what Kubiak wants to build. Ashton Jeanty’s performance as he returns from an ankle issue will offer an early gauge of that unit, while rookie Mike Washington Jr. will have a chance to turn an encouraging preseason into real regular-season impact.
If the Raiders establish consistent success on the ground, they can keep situations favorable for Kirk Cousins while forcing Miami’s defense to account for the play-action game that could open up behind it.
If they cannot, Bowers’ absence becomes considerably harder to navigate.
Cousins represents the other major piece of the equation. The Raiders are counting on his experience and familiarity with the offense to bring order to a group learning how to play together.
But command of the playbook must become command of the game. Cousins needs to deliver on time, recognize opportunities downfield and avoid the mistakes that can put a developing team in an early hole.
The defense faces its own examination.
Maxx Crosby remains the established force, but the Raiders will need their young secondary to communicate and tackle with a level of consistency that preseason games cannot fully measure.
Miami has every reason to test those defensive backs early, looking for hesitation or a missed assignment that can turn a routine play into something damaging.
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Overseeing it all is Kubiak, whose responsibilities now extend well beyond finding the right offensive call.
Timeouts, fourth-down decisions, clock management and the emotional temperature of his team all belong to him.
Nobody needs a complete verdict on the Raiders by Sunday afternoon. But they do need evidence that the preparation has produced something functional and competitive.
Winning without their best offensive player would be a convincing place to start.
MARQUEE MATCHUP
Maxx Crosby vs. Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul
Whenever Crosby lines up across from Paul, the Raiders will have a matchup capable of shaping the game.
Paul must contend with more than Crosby’s first move. He has to stay balanced, maintain his technique and finish blocks against a defender whose effort rarely diminishes as a possession wears on.
For Crosby, success extends beyond sacks. Disrupting early-down runs and forcing Miami to provide protection help can put the Dolphins behind schedule and create opportunities for his teammates.
That matters especially to the Raiders’ young secondary. The less time Miami has to let routes develop, the easier its assignment becomes.
Crosby does not need to win every snap. A handful of decisive victories could change the afternoon.
THE PICK
Raiders 24, Dolphins 14
The Raiders generate enough offense on the ground to keep Cousins out of a steady diet of obvious passing situations, and Mayer supplies a few important catches in Bowers’ absence. Crosby helps create the defensive disruption necessary to protect a young secondary, while Las Vegas limits the breakdowns that lead to easy touchdowns. Expect some uneven stretches in Kubiak’s debut, but the Raiders make enough timely plays to give their new coach his first victory.
4 DOWNS
First down: Make the running game matter
The Raiders need productive runs that influence how Miami plays defense. Consistent gains from Jeanty and Washington would help Cousins operate from manageable down-and-distance situations and give Kubiak access to the play-action game. The offensive line must create movement, avoid penalties and prevent negative plays from derailing possessions. Jeanty’s response following his ankle issue bears watching, as does Washington’s ability to carry his preseason momentum into the opener. Without Bowers, the Raiders have less margin for an offense repeatedly facing third-and-long. Establishing the run would make nearly every other assignment easier.
Second down: Keep the kids connected
The Raiders’ young secondary does not have to be flawless. It does have to stay organized. For Darien Porter, Treydan Stukes, Jermod McCoy and Zeke Masses, the challenge is processing what Miami presents without letting uncertainty become hesitation. Motion and shifting formations will test communication, while underneath completions will test tackling. Make the Dolphins earn long drives instead of giving them shortcuts through missed assignments or poor pursuit angles. Just as important is the response to a bad play. Miami will make some catches. The Raiders cannot allow one mistake to become three because a young defender starts pressing.
Third down: Get the dependable Cousins
The Raiders need the version of Cousins who brings clarity to an offense: identifying pressure, getting the ball out on time and recognizing when a modest gain is the right result. They also need him to punish Miami when opportunities arise. The Raiders cannot be so overly cautious in the passing game that they allow defenders to crowd the line of scrimmage. Without Bowers, Cousins must establish trust with Mayer and his other targets early. Converting third downs and finishing drives with touchdowns would validate the decision to put a veteran in charge. Protecting the football is essential.
Fourth down: Kubiak manages the whole game
Kubiak’s first test involves everything surrounding the play sheet. Can the Raiders get personnel on and off the field cleanly? Will they preserve timeouts for moments when they need them? Does he have a clear plan for fourth-down opportunities rather than making those decisions in a rush? An opener can expose organizational weaknesses as quickly as physical ones. Kubiak also sets the tone when adversity arrives. His team needs to see composure and conviction, along with the willingness to adjust. A close fourth quarter would test his preparation as thoroughly as anything Miami’s defense puts in front of him.