Las Vegas Raiders vs Miami Dolphins: Game preview and prediction for Week 3

The Las Vegas Raiders take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 3, and here is our preview and prediction for the AFC clash inside Allegiant Stadium.

The Las Vegas Raiders are in familiar territory for the 2021 season, sitting at 2-0 to open the season for the second straight year. With a much easier opponent for the upcoming contest this week in the Miami Dolphins, the Silver and Black might go 3-0 for the first time since 2002.

As it stands, Las Vegas’s game-plan will be similar to the Week 2 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the win saw them depend heavily on the pass due to starting running back Josh Jacobs being injured. Going into Saturday, Jacobs was listed as doubtful, so there is very little chance he plays in this one.

The Dolphins will also be facing a major injury of their own, as starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is out due to fractured ribs. The second-year quarterback was not showing much in terms of production up to the injury, but backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett is an even bigger downgrade.

This Raiders defense has been one of the most pleasant surprises for the unexpected and undefeated AFC West division leaders. Taking on a backup quarterback will surely play well into the hands of the Raiders defensive line, led by ends Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue. The Dolphins will have a tough time trying to put points on the board versus a strong defense, and an already lethargic offense.

The exceptions for victory in this one should favor Las Vegas, something that has not happened all season so far, as they were betting underdogs against both opponents so far. Quarterback Derek Carr will be the focal point of the Dolphins defense, which statistically has been one of the worst in this early season.

He should once again put on a dazzling display against a porous defense.

Predicting the Raiders final score against the Miami Dolphins

This, unlike the two games so far will not be a close one, the Raiders will run away with this one early in the desert. Carr and his newfound targets will be too much for the Dolphins to overcome, and a backup quarterback taking on the newly revamped Raiders defense will be too much for the Fins to overcome.

Prediction: Raiders 35, Dolphins 13