Raiders host Dolphins for the opening game of the 2026 NFL season

The Las Vegas Raiders prepare to open their 2026 NFL campaign at home against the Miami Dolphins. Both teams enter the matchup under new leadership, with Klint Kubiak beginning his tenure as head coach for the Raiders and Jeff Hafley taking over for the Dolphins. Kirk Cousins is set to start at quarterback for the Raiders, while the team continues to develop Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the draft. Conversely, the Dolphins are starting Malik Willis as a temporary option following a roster overhaul that saw the departures of several veteran players. While the Raiders aggressively pursued free agents to bolster their lineup, the Dolphins are currently positioned to potentially target a quarterback in the upcoming 2027 draft. The Raiders enter the contest as favorites due to their more advanced rebuilding timeline.

• 1:02 PMYahoo Sports — Raiders are a year ahead of Week 1 opponent Dolphins