Las Vegas Raiders’ Offensive Line Dominates In Week 1 Win Over Miami Dolphins
One of the Las Vegas Raiders’ biggest questions heading into the 2026 season was how much the offensive line could improve after being the worst unit in the NFL a year ago. If the Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins is any indication, the Raiders will be a night-and-day difference in the trenches compared to last season.
A dominant win is typically paired with a dominant performance from the offensive line, and Las Vegas’ 27-13 victory was no different. Quarterback Kirk Cousins wasn’t sacked and was only hit twice on his 30 pass attempts. Meanwhile, second-year running back Ashton Jeanty finally got some breathing room, scooting for 102 yards on 23 carries (4.4 ypc), and rookie Mike Washington Jr. added seven carries for 41 yards (5.9 ypc).
That means the Silver and Black’s running backs combined for 30 rushes and 146 rushing yards (4.87 ypc), as the line paved the way for rushing lanes all afternoon. Gameballs are in order for new o-line coach Rick Dennison, Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Tyler Linderbaum, Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze, as they played a big part in giving Raider Nation something to cheer about in the season opener.
On that note, let’s see how the internet is reacting to the Raiders’ big win!
Is the Raiders offensive line/run game improvement the biggest upgrade in week one from anything in the league last season?
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 13, 2026
Final: Raiders win 27-13. Klint Kubiak has his first NFL victory as a head coach.
— Sam Warren (@samwarren83) September 13, 2026
There's certainly things to clean up, but so much to like from this performance. Ashton Jeanty was unleashed, and the offensive line was vastly improved.
New era starts out on the right foot.
#Raiders HC Klint Kubiak on their offensive line
— Jesse Merrick – Silver & Black Sports Network (@JesseSBSN) September 13, 2026
"We ran the ball well, we were effective"
Noted that they didn't give up a sack today
OL dominated early…Jeanty fun in passing game, DL had fun late bright start…..but I think you see the kid earlier than expected a lot left out there today on longer throws down field, but good to have a playcaller in charge again
— Marcus Watson (@marcuspatrickw1) September 14, 2026
The #Raiders offensive line allowed a 29% pressure rate, which is the third-lowest so far in the NFL in week one.
— Jesse Merrick – Silver & Black Sports Network (@JesseSBSN) September 13, 2026
Miami also blitzed them at the 8th-highest (29%) clip so far in week one, too.
What a stark different from the 2025 #Raiders OL to this year's version and we're only 1 quarter of play into the regular season. #RaiderNation
— Ray Aspuria (@AsukalAspuria) September 13, 2026
Jeanty and Cousins gave some love to the big fellas.
#Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty
— Jesse Merrick – Silver & Black Sports Network (@JesseSBSN) September 14, 2026
"That's how we win games, with our offensive line… super proud of those guys up front."
#Raiders QB Kirk Cousins on the offensive line play
— Jesse Merrick – Silver & Black Sports Network (@JesseSBSN) September 14, 2026
"I just felt like the run game just kept us in favorable downs and distances all game… it just made everything easier."
Good company for Jeanty.
With his performance today, RB Ashton Jeanty (@AshtonJeanty2) notched his second career game with 100+ rush yards and 2+ receiving touchdowns, tied with Christian McCaffrey and Brian Westbrook for the most such games in NFL history.#RaiderNation | @Raiders
— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) September 14, 2026
#Raiders QB Kirk Cousins on Ashton Jeanty’s performance: “He's talented runner. I think there were a couple times where I handed a ball off, the corner's unblocked. He bounces to the outside, and it's really a race between him and the edge defender. …Instead of it being a one…
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) September 14, 2026
#RaiderNation, keep showin' up!! pic.twitter.com/KcgD9C9zMM
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 13, 2026
Klint Kubiak still isn’t satisfied.
Kubiak: “We’re not where we want to be. There's things that we got to get better at. We have 12 guys on the field. You know, I'm burning timeouts left and right in the second half because we're having trouble getting lined up.”
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) September 13, 2026
#Raiders HC Klint Kubiak
— Jesse Merrick – Silver & Black Sports Network (@JesseSBSN) September 13, 2026
Said the players gave him and Rob Leonard a game ball tonight for their first win together.
One time for the first time ???? #RaiderNationpic.twitter.com/PSU31Ta9GV
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 14, 2026
How about some love for rookie defensive back Treydan Stukes?
Raiders CB Treydan Stukes (CB3-Tier 2/High level NFL starter) had an outstanding 89.6 PFF grade in week 1, 2nd highest amongst all NFL CBs. Stukes finished T-1st on the Raiders with 6 tackles, had a pass defended, and an INT. His 33.3 passer rating when targeted was 2nd amongst… pic.twitter.com/C5VN7SNIfI
— Adam Carter (@impactfbdata) September 13, 2026
Big shoutout to Kwity Paye for a strong Raiders debut, too.
Didn’t have Kwity Paye leading the #Raiders with 4 QB hits on my Week 1 bingo card
— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) September 13, 2026
A few thoughts from our community chat (click the links/quotes below to join the conversation):
- They won 1 of the 2-3 i thought they were gonna win this year W Titans and maybe Jets?!?! Happy for a win looking good but Dolphins are bottom of the barrel cant wait to get a real progress measurement playing against a playoff favorite team to see where we actually stand. Good start to the season. — FredFuchs
- QB Cousins need to find a team so he can call home Mendoza doesn’t need him to take up some of his playing time he didn’t need Cousins when he won the Heisman Trophy or when he took his team to win the Championship title in 2026 the Raiders need to let Mendoza play ball or is it that they don’t want to see Mendoza excel because of his nationality Bo Dix didn’t have anyone tailing him when he started his rookie year and he didn’t accomplish as much as Mendoza Raiders need to stay off Mendoza behind and let him show his talent. — rcal57
- First I’ll preface with 1st game and vs Dolphins. Having said that…I saw a professionally coached team with HC who knows wtf he’s doing, an actual defense who put the game away. Imagine that… — SeaofHands74
- I really like that a lot of home grown guys are showing some talent. Jeanty, Laube, Washington, Mayer, JPJ, Hemingway, Tucker, Bech and Stukes. Also, didn’t hear DJ Glaze’s name all day. I am liking this. — SnB Stop the Run
- Excellent performance by the Raiders today! Everything went right. What was not to like? — LeslieMonteiro
- I know it’s againat the dolphins, but last year’s team would have either lost or barely squeak by with a win at best. Feels so good that we actually look improved. — Jack’s Axe
- I dont mean to be a debbie downer, but didnt we feel this good about this time last year? — Saclicious
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