The article predicts the Las Vegas Raiders will defeat the Miami Dolphins in an NFL Week 1 matchup, with the Raiders favored to win by 3 points. The analysis highlights that both teams have undergone significant changes, particularly noting Malik Willis's new role as quarterback for the Dolphins and Kirk Cousins joining the Raiders. The author believes the game will be high-scoring despite concerns about the defenses of both teams and suggests betting on the over 40.5 point total while backing the Raiders to win by more than three points.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 7, the Tennessee Titans' quarterback Malik Willis will face off against Kirk Cousins of the Las Vegas Raiders in NFL Week One. The game pits a rebuilding Miami Dolphins team against the more established Raiders, with oddsmakers favoring the Raiders by 3 points. Despite recent roster changes and departures, including key players like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins have some potential on offense with running back De’Von Achane and Willis's dynamic playmaking ability. However, given their overall struggles, predictions suggest the Dolphins might struggle this season.
Written for “NFL Week One Matchup” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 8404 · logged 2026-09-13
I wish I had an opening line that was memorable like Scott Hanson over on Red Zone.
asserted
that → wish → Zone
There isn’t anything I can write that will provide the same level of excitement that "7 hours of commercial-free football" gives.
asserted
hours → be → football
That’s what is on the horizon for us, though.
asserted
what → ’ → us
We have hours of uninterrupted football, and our first full schedule.
asserted
We → have → football
My first play of the weekend comes as the Dolphins take on the Raiders.
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Dolphins → come → Raiders
The Miami Dolphins are my pick to earn something really special this year… the #1 overall draft pick.
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Dolphins → earn → something
That’s not exactly a good sign, but I do think they will be the worst team in football.
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they → ’ → football
The Dolphins team has been decimated over the course of the past year.
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team → decimate → year
Their starting quarterback from last season: gone.
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quarterback → go → season
Their top wide receivers (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle): gone and gone.
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receivers → go → ?
Malik Willis is dynamic and has shown flashes of success in both Tennessee and Green Bay.
asserted
Willis → show → Tennessee
At the same time, Achane might not have any running space considering the teams know he is the best and only true threat on the team.
uncertain
he → have → team
Willis has shown flashes, but he has also shown that he is normally a backup quarterback for a reason.
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he → show → reason
The Las Vegas Raiders also underwent many changes this offseason.
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Raiders → undergo → changes
They earned the #1 overall pick last year with a terrible season of their own.
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They → earn → own
That saw them dismiss Pete Carroll and bring in Klint Kubiak to take over the franchise.
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them → see → franchise
It also saw them select Fernando Mendoza with the first pick, and then they also grabbed Kirk Cousins, who worked with Kubiak previously.
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who → see → Kubiak
The Raiders tried to trade away Maxx Crosby in the offseason, but that was vetoed, and he is now back on the roster.
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he → try → roster
He should still be solid for the club, but there are questions around the rest of the defense.
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He → be → defense
Their new coach is also not a defensive guy, so there is reason to be concerned about this side of the ball.
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coach → be → ball
For some context, the Raiders are ranked 24th in the league for defensive line rankings.
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Raiders → rank → rankings
Brock Bowers is out for the game, and that hurts the Raiders, but I think it will be okay against the Dolphins.
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it → hurt → Dolphins
We have two quarterbacks in new spots, and questionable defenses.
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We → have → spots
Does that mean we will get a high-scoring game, or will the quarterbacks be too busy trying to figure things out?
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quarterbacks → mean → things
Personally, I think we get the higher-scoring game, but I’m not touching the total.
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I → think → total
I don’t think there is enough on one side or the other to really invest in it.
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I → think → it
I do lean toward the over 40.5, though.
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I → lean → 40.5
Instead, I’m backing the Raiders at -3 in this one.
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I → back → one
Las Vegas is one of the teams that I think will improve, but let’s not believe that they will win a ton of games.
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they → think → games
They are still going to miss the playoffs.
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They → go → playoffs
But for one game, the Raiders should win the game by at least three points, and I think they should win by five or more.
asserted
they → win → five
