Offense: a completely different identity

The most encouraging part of the Raiders' performance wasn't Kirk Cousins throwing three touchdowns. It was how functional the entire offense looked from the opening snap.

Kubiak's first regular-season possession as Raiders head coach lasted nearly nine minutes and covered 93 yards, ending with Cousins finding rookie Jack Bech for a 15-yard touchdown. That opening drive established exactly what Las Vegas wanted to be: patient, physical and comfortable operating through the run game and play-action.

The centerpiece was Ashton Jeanty. The 2nd year finished with 102 rushing yards on 23 carries and added six catches for 45 yards and two receiving touchdowns - 147 yards from scrimmage on 29 touches. He didn't need one massive run to inflate the numbers; he consistently kept the offense ahead of schedule and gave Cousins an extremely reliable outlet underneath. Fellow rookie Mike Washington Jr. chipped in 41 rushing yards on seven carries, helping Las Vegas commit to the run rather than abandoning it at the first sign of resistance.

That workload matters. Las Vegas ran the ball 37 times to Miami's 18 and possessed the football for 34:53. That's a sustainable offensive identity — and one Raiders fans haven't seen much of in recent years.

Kirk Cousins: productive, but imperfect

Cousins finished 21 of 30 for 160 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. The touchdown total looks excellent; the yardage wasn't spectacular, and the two picks were the biggest blemish on an otherwise strong Raiders debut.

Still, Cousins largely did what this offense needs from him: distribute the football, execute Kubiak's scheme, convert scoring opportunities and let the running game carry part of the burden. His second touchdown, a 13-yard strike to Jeanty, was also the 300th touchdown pass of his NFL career.

The biggest offensive concern coming out of Week 1 is obvious: turnovers. Against a stronger opponent, two interceptions could erase much of the good work Las Vegas did elsewhere.

Offensive line: perhaps the biggest development of the day

If one performance should make Raiders fans particularly optimistic, it's the offensive line. After entering the season with real questions up front, Las Vegas allowed zero sacks and only two quarterback hits against Miami - while clearing room for 102 yards from Jeanty and 41 more from Washington.

That combination changes everything. If Cousins can consistently operate from a clean pocket while Jeanty gets legitimate running lanes, Kubiak doesn't need his quarterback throwing 40 times a game; the Raiders can build their offense around favorable down-and-distance situations instead. The addition of center Tyler Linderbaum and the revamped unit around him already looks significant.

Defense: pressure was relentless

The Raiders defense arguably had the strongest afternoon of any unit. Miami produced only 259 total yards, converted just 2 of 10 third downs, and managed only 13 points.

Most importantly, Las Vegas repeatedly got to Malik Willis. The Raiders recorded five sacks, with Maxx Crosby and Kwity Paye among those generating consistent pressure - Paye's disruptive fourth-quarter sack helped bury Miami deep in its own territory. Willis completed 15 of 27 passes for 220 yards but threw an interception, and Miami's run game never established itself: De'Von Achane was held to 36 yards on 11 carries.

That's exactly the formula Las Vegas should want on defense - make an opponent one-dimensional, then unleash Crosby, Paye and the rest of the pass rush.

The secondary made plays too

Rookie corner Treydan Stukes intercepted a pass and earned an 89.6 PFF grade, according to Silver and Black Pride's postgame review.

Then Jeremy Chinn essentially ended the game. With about two minutes remaining, Miami completed a pass to Malik Washington, but Chinn forced the ball loose and Quay Walker recovered it, allowing Cousins to kneel out the clock. That gave Miami two turnovers on the afternoon and took away even a cosmetic late touchdown.

Special teams quietly mattered

The final score doesn't fully capture how valuable the Raiders' special teams were. Dylan Laube ripped off a 50-yard kickoff return immediately after Miami cut the deficit to 17-13 early in the third quarter - and instead of letting the Dolphins seize momentum, Las Vegas suddenly had the ball in advantageous field position. Cousins found Jeanty for another 13-yard touchdown two plays later, and Miami went from potentially taking control of the game to trailing 24-13 in a matter of minutes.

Matt Gay was perfect as well, converting both of his field-goal attempts, including a 47-yarder.

The most important sequence

The defining moment of the game came early in the third quarter, when Miami scored to cut the lead to 17-13. For the first time all afternoon, the game felt genuinely uncomfortable.

Good teams respond in that moment. Laube ripped off the long kickoff return, Kubiak's offense attacked immediately, and Cousins hit Jeanty for his second touchdown to make it 24-13. Miami never scored again.

That response may be the most encouraging sequence of the day. It showed that Las Vegas didn't simply dominate a bad opponent while everything was going its way - the Raiders absorbed Miami's best punch and answered it immediately.

What still needs improvement

This wasn't a flawless performance. Cousins' two interceptions are the obvious issue, and Las Vegas finished with two turnovers of its own, meaning the defense had to overcome possessions that stronger opponents may punish. The passing game also wasn't especially explosive - Cousins averaged just 5.3 yards per attempt, and Michael Mayer led the conventional receiving options with only 32 yards.

Eventually, Las Vegas will face defenses capable of limiting Jeanty. When that happens, the Raiders will need more production downfield from Bech, Jalen Nailor and the rest of the receiving corps.

And while fans understandably wanted to see Fernando Mendoza get cleanup reps, there wasn't much of a practical window for it. Miami had the ball deep into the final two minutes; Chinn's forced fumble ended the threat, and Las Vegas took over with only enough time for Cousins to take three knees.

Final assessment

Overall grade: A-

Offense: B+ Defense: A Offensive line: A Special teams: A- Coaching: A-

This wasn't an offensive fireworks show. It may have been something more important. The Raiders looked organized. They ran the football effectively, protected their quarterback, and got consistent pressure from their pass rush. Their special teams created advantageous field position, and when the Dolphins finally generated some momentum, Las Vegas answered immediately.

The Raiders finished with only 290 total yards, but they controlled nearly 35 minutes of possession and ran 67 offensive plays to Miami's 50. The scoreboard reflected the type of game Kubiak wanted to play, not one built on empty yardage.

For a franchise beginning another new coaching era, 27-13 and 1-0 is about as encouraging a first data point as anyone could reasonably ask for.

The biggest question heading into Week 2 isn't whether Las Vegas can win this way. It's whether the offensive line, running game and defense on display today are actually the foundation of the 2026 Raiders. If they are, this team may be considerably better than people expected.