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Kubiak, Raiders top Dolphins as first-year head coach begins career as lead man
Son of NFL coaching great Gary Kubiak, Klint has his head coaching career off to a perfect 1-0 start.
Kubiak’s Las Vegas Raiders toppled the Miami Dolphins, 27-13, Sunday, Sept. 13 from Allegiant Stadium in the season opener. Moreover, the team did so without star tight end Brock Bowers, who missed the contest with a knee injury.
“Really proud of the guys,” Kubiak said. “Not happy with how we played the game offensively in that second half. We’ve got a lot to get better at but I’m very excited for our team and for the organization and for the Silver & Black – the crowd was phenomenal out there.”
With a 1-0 overall record to begin the fresh campaign, Las Vegas now turns its attention to its divisional rival, Los Angeles. The Raiders and Chargers will add another chapter to their storied history Sunday, Sept. 20 from SoFi Stadium with kickoff set for 1:05 p.m.
“I just want to see us continue to get better and not be satisfied and close games out,” Kubiak said.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins made his first start as a member of Raider nation and capped his first drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jack Bech. In fact, Cousins didn’t endure his first incompletion until early in the second quarter after a 9-for-9 start for 64 yards.
Cousins tossed his 300th career touchdown pass just before halftime on a 13-yard hurl to running back Ashton Jeanty. That touchdown pass moved the 15-year veteran into a tie for 14th place on the all-time touchdown pass list with Hall-of-Famer John Elway.
“It’s a testament to trying to win the long game,” Cousins said. “Trying to have good habits over a long period of time. I feel like it’s also a testament to the people I’ve been able to work with: coaches and the players around me. Really grateful for all the people involved in being able to do that.”
Cousins passed Elway with his second touchdown toss to Jeanty on his way to 160 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-30 passing to go along with two interceptions. Both of which came in the second half.
“I thought he came ready to play,” Kubiak said. “I thought he had a great start to the game – two decisions he’s got to have back. That’s the nature of the position.”
Jeanty concluded the night as the team’s leading rusher and receiver with 147 total yards accumulated and those two touchdowns on 29 touches.
“Coming off his injury, I’d say it’s kind of on par for what we’ve come to expect from him,” Kubiak said. “He’s been a leader throughout and you know, what he did tonight is what we expect from him. But doing it on a bad ankle, with a little less practice than he’s used to, I think just tells you the kind of guy you’re dealing with.”
Las Vegas didn’t punt for the first time until early in the fourth quarter and would only punt two times total in the victory.
In his first live action since December 21st of last year, defensive end Maxx Crosby wrapped up quarterback Malik Willis for a sack and a half.
Fellow defensive lineman Kwity Paye secured two sacks on the day including a tandem tackle with Crosby. That joint sack helped Crosby reach 70 sacks for his career.
As a team, Las Vegas pumped out five total sacks including one offseason acquisition Nakobe Dean on a third down late in the third quarter. That set the stage for a missed field goal by the visitors.
Miami was put into great field position, beginning the drive at the Las Vegas 15-yard line on the heels of a 79-yard kick return. That defensive front was so ferocious that it forced the Dolphins backwards on a second quarter 3rd and 1 as the team settled for a field goal.
“That’s what we expect from our guys,” Kubiak said. “No head down, no ‘woe is me.’ Let’s go get the ball and see what we can do. It’s easy for a game to go the other way and I was proud of our players, how they responded and the way the coaching staff got them ready to go for the next drive.”
The Raiders got an added boost in the return game from both receiver Malik Benson and running back Dylan Laube. Benson racked up 35 punt returns yards including a 23-yarder while Laube tallied 95 kick return yards highlighted by a 50-yard scamper.
“I thought special teams was tremendous,” Cousins said. “The field position they gave us consistently throughout the game [was great].”
Las Vegas capped its performance with a pair of second half turnovers forced against Miami’s offense. Rookie cornerback Treydan Stukes hauled in his first interception of his career with a third quarter grab.
Furthermore, safety Jeremy Chinn punched the ball loose in the fourth quarter allowing for linebacker Quay Walker to scoop up the loose ball for a fumble recovery.
“Our defense kept picking us up,” Cousins said. “Getting stops, they did a phenomenal job closing out the game.”
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