Dolphins vs. Raiders Week 1 preview: Four keys to a Miami win

Dolphins football is finally back.

Miami opens the Jeff Hafley era Sunday in Las Vegas against a Raiders team that has made plenty of changes of its own. Las Vegas finished 3-14 last season and earned the first overall pick, but this isn’t the same team.

The Raiders have a new head coach, a new starting quarterback in Kirk Cousins and several new pieces on both sides of the football. In a way, these are two teams in similar situations. Both are beginning something new, and both have young players looking to prove people wrong.

Nobody is overlooking anybody here. Week 1 games can get strange, but Miami has a real opportunity to leave Las Vegas 1-0.

Here are four keys to the game.

1. Stop Ashton Jeanty

Everything the Raiders want to do offensively begins with Ashton Jeanty and the running game.

Jeanty practiced fully Wednesday and Thursday after dealing with an ankle injury, so it looks like he will play. Las Vegas can also mix in Mike Washington Jr., a bigger rookie back with speed whom I liked coming out of college.

Klint Kubiak wants to establish the run and build his play-action game off it. If Jeanty gets going, the Raiders can use motion and condensed formations to put even more pressure on Miami’s young defense.

That makes the matchup between Jordan Phillips and Tyler Linderbaum important. Phillips doesn’t have to dominate one of the NFL’s best centers. Can he get a draw? Can he occupy Linderbaum and prevent him from getting clean shots on Jordyn Brooks and Jacob Rodriguez?

That’s what matters. Phillips might not finish with a huge number of tackles, but if he keeps Miami’s linebackers clean and allows them to run to the football, he can still have a major impact.

2. Don’t let the window dressing beat you

Brock Bowers is out for the opener after undergoing a procedure on his knee, and that is humongous for Miami. Let’s be honest: Bowers is the Raiders’ passing game.

Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor have speed, and Michael Mayer is a solid tight end. But Las Vegas doesn’t have an established No. 1 receiver who should force Miami to change its entire coverage plan.

That’s why this is a good opening matchup for Miami’s young secondary. The bigger challenge will be everything happening before the snap.

Kubiak will use motion, shifts and condensed formations to test Rodriguez, who will wear the green dot, and rookie nickel Chris Johnson. Las Vegas wants all that movement to create confusion and produce an easy play.

Miami cannot allow that to happen. Get lined up, stay disciplined and don’t let the window dressing beat you. Make these receivers prove they can consistently win their matchups outside.

3. Get Kirk Cousins off his spot

Cousins can still beat Miami if he is allowed to stand comfortably in the pocket. He understands the offense, throws with anticipation and has seen just about every coverage an NFL defense can show him.

But he isn’t going to beat the Dolphins with his legs.

The matchup Miami should attack is DJ Glaze on the right side of the Raiders’ offensive line. Move Chop Robinson around, get Josh Uche involved and make Las Vegas decide whether it needs to slide its protection toward Glaze.

Collapse Cousins’ right side and force him to move left. Make him reset his feet or step forward into Miami’s interior rush.

If the Dolphins stop the run and create obvious passing situations, Hafley can start changing the picture on Cousins. Miami can show pressure, drop out of it, and bring somebody from a different spot. If Cousins has to hold the football for one extra second, Robinson, Uche, and Zach Sieler have a chance to get home.

4. Control Maxx Crosby and let Malik be Malik

Miami isn’t going to shut down Maxx Crosby for four quarters. He is too good. The goal is to prevent him from taking over the entire game.

Crosby moves around, but most of his work comes from the defensive left side, across from the offense’s right tackle. Public alignment numbers from last season had him there roughly 85% of the time, so Austin Jackson should see plenty of him.

Miami’s plan for Crosby has to be ready from the opening snap. Give Jackson help with Will Kacmarek, DJ Herman and the running backs. Chip Crosby, double him when necessary and make him work for everything.

That makes Patrick Paul’s matchup on the opposite side critical. Whether it’s Kwity Paye, Malcolm Koonce or somebody else, Paul has to hold up without constant help. If Paul handles his side, Miami can give Jackson help without leaving somebody else exposed.

The Dolphins should also make Crosby defend Malik Willis’ athleticism. Get Malik moving early with bootlegs and read-option looks. If Crosby crashes down too aggressively, Malik has to pull the football and make him pay. The Raiders cannot attack one spot and assume the quarterback will still be standing there.

Miami can also run the football against this defensive front. Adam Butler and Tonka Hemingway can penetrate, while Folorunso Fatukasi gives the Raiders more size inside. Still, Kadyn Proctor, Aaron Brewer and Jonah Savaiinaea should test them physically.

Establish the running game and keep Malik out of third-and-long. Get De’Von Achane involved with screens and short passes. Make Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker run, and give Malik a chance to settle into the game.

Crosby is going to make some plays, and Jeanty might break a run. That’s football, especially in Week 1. But without Bowers, it is difficult to see where the Raiders consistently find offense if Miami stops the run.

On the other side, if the Dolphins control Crosby, stay out of third-and-long and allow Malik to use his athleticism, this is a matchup Miami can win.

Do those things, and the Dolphins have a real chance to begin the Hafley era 1-0.

We broke down the Dolphins-Raiders matchup in greater detail on the latest episode of Fins Faithful, including the biggest matchups and our Week 1 predictions. Watch the full preview below.