It seemed like the Las Vegas Raiders had the Miami Dolphins outmatched in so many key areas ahead of their Week 1 bout, but one matchup that could potentially be exposed was in the trenches. Miami's Chop Robinson has had DJ Glaze's number, and Las Vegas' right tackle needed to make a statement.
And that he did.
Raider Nation certainly had their concerns about Glaze after a brutal showing in his sophomore year, and early reports from training camp indicated that he wasn't performing well. But a strong preseason rallied the troops again, and Glaze flat-out dominated on opening weekend to ease a lot of concerns.
But this is the NFL, and there is no rest for the weary. A Los Angeles Chargers team with a talented pass rush is on the docket for Glaze and Las Vegas in Week 2, and to establish himself as a true bookend up front, the young tackle must answer the bell again against better competition.
DJ Glaze was dominant for Raiders' OL in Week 1 vs. Dolphins
No matter which advanced analytics you take as gospel, they all tell the same story: Glaze pitched a shutout on opening weekend against the Dolphins. Pro Football Focus gave Glaze a very high run-blocking grade and acknowledged that he didn't allow a single quarterback pressure last Sunday.
Robinson had a pass-rush win rate of just 5.6% and recorded zero pressures, so Glaze locked him up completely. NFL Next Gen Stats also had Glaze as the league's third-best offensive tackle in Week 1 in terms of pass-block win rate. Our Marcus Johnson charted that Glaze missed just one block.
For a player who gave up 10 sacks and 48 pressures a year ago and has notoriously struggled with speed rushers like Robinson, Glaze showing up in such a major way on Sunday was a significant vote of confidence for the offensive line in Las Vegas.
Maybe it's the Rick Dennison effect, or perhaps having competent personnel alongside him made his job easier and allowed him to have more success. But regardless of how you slice it, Glaze looked like a different player against Miami. But the season isn't one game, and the Chargers are a tough foe.
Chargers present another major challenge for Raiders' DJ Glaze
The Week 1 box score doesn't accurately depict how talented this Los Angeles edge rusher group is. With Tuli Tuipulotu leading the charge, first-round rookie Akheem Mesidor now in the fold, and veteran players like Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree still in the mix, this crew cannot be underestimated.
Now, in their loss to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, this unit managed just one sack, six quarterback hits and 11 pressures. That production isn't going to scare anyone, especially against a suspect Cardinals offensive line. But there were a lot of elements at play.
Perhaps the most critical factor was that this was the Chargers' first real game with Chris O'Leary as their DC after losing Jesse Minter this offseason. That is a huge change, and a big downgrade, if we're being honest, so it'll take some time for them to adjust. But it could click at any time with their talent.
Minter's ability to scheme up pressure without blitzing was special, as he had Mack, Tuipulotu and Odafe Oweh playing off each other incredibly well. But both Minter and Oweh are now elsewhere in the NFL, and Los Angeles didn't show any ability to replicate that magic in Week 1.
Still, Tuipulotu is a very good athlete and a high-end edge rusher in the NFL, as he was a Pro Bowler in 2025, thanks to a 13.0-sack campaign. Mack and Dupree have both lost a step, but they are savvy vets, and the former always brings his "A" game against his former team.
Mesidor is an older rookie, so he doesn't need as much time to adjust to the professional game, and he was a first-round pick for a reason. Again, he didn't get off to a hot start in his NFL career, but Mesidor is ultra-talented and he should put it together any day now. That day could be Sunday.
Plus, pressures aren't the bottom line and don't always indicate how well the defensive line rushed. A team can run the ball a lot and design quick throws to neutralize a passing attack. But pass-rush win rate tells the story of how effectively a group gets after the quarterback, sack, pressure or not.
Here were the Chargers' pass-rush win rates in Week 1, with 10-14% being average to good, 15-19% being good, and over 20% being considered elite.
Player | Pass-Rush Win Rate |
|---|---|
Akheem Mesidor | 20.0% |
Tuli Tuipulotu | 13.6% |
Bud Dupree | 11.1% |
Khalil Mack | 3.3% |
Has Mack finally lost it? I'll believe that when I see it. And if he's going to find it, it'll be against the Silver and Black. But the bottom line is that these players rushed well, even if the composite stats didn't back that up, and Glaze will have his hands full once again in Week 2 against the Chargers.
If he can dominate again in a shutout-like showing, or even just have a strong performance, it'll go a long way in Raider Nation's belief in him. But most importantly, it'll help Las Vegas win the game and continue to develop trust in each other, because Glaze could very well be here for the long haul.
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