The Las Vegas Raiders have their first matchup of the 2026 NFL season this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. The franchise, now led by Klint Kubiak, is surely hoping to wipe the slate clean and start the new era the right way at home on opening weekend with a win.
Fortunately for Kubiak, the Dolphins are in the same spot as the Raiders. They are in rebuild mode and are trying to develop a consistent winner with new head coach Jeff Hafley. Hafley will be bringing his coaching mindset from the Green Bay Packers, where he coached under Matt LaFleur.
LaFleur is known for his outside zone running game, and the Packers have been an excellent running team since he's been at the helm. Adding Bobby Slowik as their OC will bring the West Coast offense to Miami, while Hafley brings the running mentality down south from the Midwest.
With the addition of Malik Willis at quarterback, the Dolphins have several difficult elements to stop in the running game. This creates a tough matchup for the Silver and Black, as they'll also have to face De’Von Achane, who is arguably the best running back in the league.
De'Von Achane and Malik Willis present bigg challenge for Raiders' run D
Achane was one of the best running backs in the NFL in 2025, as he averaged 5.7 yards per carry, one of the highest of all time. He finished with 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, and beyond the box score, he is one of the fastest players around who can score from anywhere, anytime.
This presents a serious challenge when mixed with Willis, who has averaged 5.5 yards per carry during his career and forces opponents to play 11-on-11 on defense. The Dolphins will probably duplicate Lefluer's plan: a spread offense with plenty of run-pass options.
For a Raiders defense that struggled against the run in the preseason, Rob Leonard's defense will be tested in a major way on opening weekend. The Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals went up and down the field against Las Vegas' run defense, and the Raiders can't let that happen in Week 1.
Las Vegas' defensive tackles, such as Adam Butler and Tonka Hemingway, will have to step up and help the linebackers make plays. Of course, Maxx Crosby will make a huge difference with his amazing run defense and usually will help mitigate a lot of issues in the run game.
The new linebacker corps should be a major asset as well, but the defensive line will need to avoid getting pushed back in the run game, hold their ground, and let Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean roam and make plays.
With the Dolphins focusing on the run game, it will be important to force them into passing situations. Miami has already giving Crosby ammunition, so it could lead to an ugly day for their passing offense. The Raiders just need to keep things in control on the ground, which is easier said than done.
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