Las Vegas, NV — Kirk Cousins was brought to Las Vegas to provide stability while the Raiders prepare for a future built around top draft pick Fernando Mendoza. On Sunday, the veteran quarterback showed exactly why the organization trusted him to handle the present.
Cousins opened the season in command, completing his first 10 passes and throwing three touchdown passes as the Raiders defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-13 in their season opener.
The 15th-year veteran finished 21 of 30 for 160 yards, although two interceptions kept the performance from being flawless. Still, Cousins became the 15th quarterback in NFL history to reach 300 career touchdown passes, finishing the afternoon with 301, moving past Hall of Famer John Elway for 14th place on the league’s all-time list.
For Cousins, the milestone was less important than the consistency required to reach it.
“I think it’s just a testament to trying to win the long game, trying to have good habits over a long period of time,” Cousins said. “I feel like it’s also a testament to the people I’ve been able to work with — the coaches, the players around me.”
Cousins also became the first Raiders quarterback since Kerry Collins in 2005 to throw at least three touchdown passes in a season opener.
Two of those touchdowns went to running back Ashton Jeanty, who gave Las Vegas one of its biggest offensive performances of the afternoon.
Jeanty rushed for 102 yards and added six receptions for 45 yards, producing 147 total yards from scrimmage. The performance marked the third 100-yard rushing game of his career and came just weeks after an ankle injury had raised questions about his availability.
The Raiders certainly looked healthier offensively than they did a year ago.
Raiders Show Immediate Offensive Improvement
Las Vegas finished with 290 total yards in Klint Kubiak’s first game as head coach, a significant step forward for an offense that ranked last in the NFL in both total yardage and scoring last season.
The Raiders averaged only 245.2 yards and 14.2 points per game in 2025. Against Miami, they immediately displayed a more efficient and controlled attack.
The tone was established on the opening possession.
Las Vegas marched 93 yards on 16 plays, consuming 8:58 before Cousins connected with his first touchdown. The Raiders had produced only one touchdown drive of at least 90 yards during the entire previous season.
They eventually built a 17-3 advantage before Miami mounted its best push of the afternoon.
The Dolphins cut the deficit to 17-13 early in the third quarter, creating an opportunity to swing the momentum.
Las Vegas answered immediately.
Dylan Laube’s 50-yard kickoff return put the Raiders at midfield, and Cousins finished the short drive by finding Jeanty for a 13-yard touchdown. The score restored control and gave Las Vegas the cushion it needed.
“That’s what we expect from our guys, no head down, no ‘woe is me,’” Kubiak said. “It’s easy for a game to go the other way, and I was proud of our players, of how they responded.”
Kubiak received a game ball following his first victory as an NFL head coach, though he wasn’t completely satisfied with the way his offense closed the game.
Outside of the final possession, when Las Vegas simply took a knee to run out the clock, the Raiders’ four fourth-quarter drives ended with three punts and an interception.
“We have a lot to get better at, but I’m very excited for our team and our organization,” Kubiak said.
The Raiders will have to improve quickly. A challenging stretch awaits, with upcoming games against Kansas City, Buffalo and the Los Angeles Rams among the opponents on the schedule.
Miami Struggles to Find Its Rhythm
Miami, the NFL’s youngest team with an average age of 25.5, never found enough consistency to keep pace with the Raiders.
Malik Willis was under pressure throughout the afternoon, throwing for 220 yards and an interception while absorbing five sacks.
Maxx Crosby accounted for 1½ of those sacks, pushing his career total past 70. He became only the third Raiders player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to reach that milestone.
Willis accepted responsibility for the pressure.
“You can blame the sacks on me,” Willis said. “Sack is a quarterback stat.”
Miami coach Jeff Hafley acknowledged that his young team still has plenty of work ahead.
“We have to coach better and we need to play better,” Hafley said. “A lot of guys were out there who were out there for the first time. Some of them had to take a deep breath and settle in a little bit.”
The Dolphins did show enough fight to make the game competitive after falling behind early, but they couldn’t sustain that momentum.
Raiders Overcome Absence of Brock Bowers
Las Vegas also had to operate without star tight end Brock Bowers, who remained sidelined following knee surgery.
Michael Mayer helped fill the void, catching six passes for 32 yards.
The Raiders didn’t need one player to replace Bowers’ production. Instead, they spread the ball around while leaning heavily on Jeanty and Cousins to establish control.
That formula proved effective enough to deliver Kubiak his first victory and give the Raiders an encouraging start to a season that will ultimately determine how quickly they can transition toward their next quarterback era.
For now, Cousins has given Las Vegas exactly what it hoped for: a veteran capable of keeping the offense steady while the franchise prepares for its future.
Injuries
Dolphins: Linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr. suffered a hamstring injury in the second half.
Raiders: Cornerback Darien Porter left the game with a foot injury in the fourth quarter.
Up Next:
Dolphins: Travel to San Francisco on Sunday.
Raiders: Visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
