Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Mark Anderson The Associated Press
In their season-opening victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders showed significant improvement in both their offensive and defensive lines. The offensive line did not allow any sacks and helped running backs Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. accumulate 143 rushing yards, a stark contrast to last year’s worst statistical performance where they allowed 64 sacks and averaged just 77.5 rushing yards per game. On defense, the team recorded five sacks, with Maxx Crosby contributing 1 ½ in the fourth quarter alone and Kwity Paye adding two full sacks. Head coach Klint Kubiak highlighted the importance of maintaining this level of performance as the Raiders face upcoming tough opponents over the next six games.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Ashton Jeanty attracted much of the attention for the Las Vegas Raiders ’ season-opening victory over Miami on Sunday.
asserted
Cousins → attract → Sunday
It was that dominance that not only helped make the difference, but provided a promising sign for a team that entered the season with so many questions about both areas.
asserted
that → help → areas
Not that those questions have completely gone away.
asserted
questions → go → ?
The Dolphins are facing a rebuild, and starting with Sunday’s trip to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Raiders are about to begin a six-game stretch against opponents that will help define their season.
asserted
that → face → season
But the fact both lines stood up so well is still something to build upon.
asserted
lines → stand → ?
“I thought our guys were detailed,” said coach Klint Kubiak, making the point he also was including the entire team.
asserted
he → think → team
“They were prepared for the game, and they played hard.
asserted
they → play → game
The effort was what we expected to be, and it’s got to stay that way.”
asserted
it → expect → what
Las Vegas’ offensive line was statistically the league’s worst last season, allowing 64 sacks and averaging 77.5 yards rushing per game and 3.57 yards per carry.
asserted
line → allow → carry
Against Miami, the Raiders didn’t allow a sack and the ground game produced 143 yards between Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr.
asserted
game → allow → Jeanty
Improving the front was a priority for general manager John Spytek, who most notably signed center Tyler Linderbaum.
asserted
who → improve → Linderbaum
The three-time Pro Bowler put together some highlight-reel blocks, including coming off one to quickly pivot to his right and keep Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson from getting to Cousins.
asserted
Bowler → put → Cousins
What could’ve been a sack or batted pass instead became a touchdown toss to Jack Bech.
uncertain
been → bat → Bech
“Whenever you start with a win, you obviously can say there’s a lot of good things that we did,” Linderbaum said.
asserted
Linderbaum → start → that
“But also you’ve got to find things we need to improve on and get better at.
asserted
we → get → things
It’s a long season.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
The teams that get better each and every week are the teams that are going to be successful.
asserted
that → get → ?
There are a lot of things I think we could’ve done a lot better in the second half, and we’ve got to be able to finish games.”
uncertain
we → be → games
Las Vegas didn’t score in that period and had just two first downs and 3 yards.
asserted
Vegas → score → downs
But the Raiders’ defense seemed to only grow stronger as the game went on, pressuring Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis throughout and sacking him five times.
asserted
game → seem → him
He’s accustomed to facing double teams and chip blocks, but having another defender on the line who also can get into the backfield could force opposing offenses from devoting so much time into stopping Crosby.
uncertain
who → ’ → Crosby
Kwity Paye, who signed in the offseason, had two sacks and four quarterback hits.
asserted
who → sign → sacks
Crosby went from a quiet first three quarters to his usual menacing self with 1 1/2 sacks in the fourth.
asserted
Crosby → go → fourth
“I know that going into the game, (Paye) doesn’t maybe get as much hype,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → know → hype
“But all he’s done this whole training camp has been available, practicing hard, being a great teammate.”
asserted
he → do → ?
Paye had 16 1/2 sacks combined in the 2023-24 seasons in Indianapolis, though he had just four last season.
asserted
he → have → four
“I think it’s rewarding, kind of proving the front office right for wanting to come and get me,” Paye said of his performance.
asserted
Paye → think → performance
Snap limit for Maxx Crosby
Crosby is accustomed to not coming off the field, but he played in 81.8% of defensive snaps against Miami.
asserted
he → accustom → Miami
He underwent knee surgery in January, and Kubiak is being careful with not overloading his defensive superstar.
asserted
Kubiak → undergo → superstar
Such an approach would not have been embraced by Crosby in past seasons.
“From Klint to the coaching staff to the doctors, they want me to play for a long time at a very high level,” Crosby said.
asserted
Crosby → embrace → level
“That’s what I want as well.
asserted
I → ’ → what
I’m in my eighth year.
asserted
I → ’m → year
I could go out there and play 100% of the snaps.
uncertain
I → go → snaps
Is that the smartest thing to do?
asserted
that → do → ?
Education of Fernando Mendoza
Backup quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the top pick in this year’s draft, stood next to QBs coach Mike Sullivan on the sideline when the offense was on the field.
asserted
offense → stand → field
Mendoza also wore his helmet so he could hear the play calls.
uncertain
he → wear → calls
“I think it’s important to hear it through the helmet because it simulates the real thing as opposed to the earpiece,” Cousins said.
asserted
Cousins → think → earpiece
No change in injury status
Tight end Brock Bowers (knee) and cornerback Darien Porter (foot) did not practice Wednesday.
asserted
Bowers → practice → status
Kubiak said both remain day to day.
asserted
both → say → day
Bowers didn’t play in the opener and Porter was injured in that game.
asserted
Porter → play → game
The Aporia
