The Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins are set to meet in their season‑opening contest at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, with Miami’s game plan centered on containing Las Vegas star pass rusher Maxx Crosby amid a revamped Raiders roster.
Crosby has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier edge rushers, amassing 69.5 sacks over seven seasons. Dolphins left tackle Patrick Paul emphasized the challenge Crosby presents.
“He’s a high‑motor player,” Paul told reporters. “I think their defense runs off his motor and he’s a big player. I’d say he’s their motor.”
Paul added that Miami’s offensive line must be physical and assertive to disrupt Crosby’s rhythm.
“I think with him, he’s a dynamic player, so with him just beating him to a spot, getting your hands on him and getting him off his game,” Paul said. “He likes to play with a lot of swagger, so just getting him displaced off his game, getting him off his spots, putting your hands on him, being aggressive and just getting him out of his game.”
The tactic could also involve drawing Crosby into the verbal exchanges that have become part of his on‑field persona.
“Yeah, he’s a hothead, so a lot of those things you can get into his game with that,” Paul said Tuesday. “But I mean, he’s a big player, so you just gotta stay on it each 4 quarters with him.”
Recalling the 2024 meeting, Paul noted Crosby’s fiery side surfaced when Miami prevailed 34‑19; Crosby drew a 15‑yard penalty after a confrontation with the Dolphins’ offensive line.
When asked whether opposing teams trying to get under his skin provides him extra motivation, Crosby replied, “I don’t know what they’re talking about or who’s talking about what, but it is what it is. We’ll see Sunday.”
Quarterback Malik Willis, whom Paul is protecting, stressed awareness over anxiety.
“I think that’s more of a feel thing,” Willis said Wednesday. “Every play is just a separate play. It’s not like, he’s on the field, now I have to be blah, blah blah. It’s more or less just being aware of him. Obviously he’s a big player and he’s been for a long time in this league. We just try to do the best to do my job and that’s what’s more important rather than worrying about that kind of thing. Obviously you’ve got to be aware of him, you’ve got to know where he’s at, but you gotta play football too.”
While Crosby is a familiar figure for Miami to prepare for, much of Las Vegas’ approach remains uncertain entering Week 1 following head coach Klint Kubiak’s recent work and the numerous roster moves made during the offseason.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley acknowledged the shared difficulty of installing new systems with limited film on the opponent.
“I think it’s exactly the same concern that they’re in,” Hafley said. “I mean, that’s why Week 1, 2 and 3, there’s not a lot of tendencies, right?”
He continued, “We’re trying to watch the Raiders players and a bunch of free agents they brought in to figure out their personnel, but trying to piece together how, for example, Kubiak is gonna use X, Y and Z within his scheme, now that he has these guys.”
Hafley framed the early‑season focus as internal.
“It’s a big challenge,” he said. “I think early in the season, it’s got to be about yourself, and that’s my message to the team.”
He added, “It’s gotta be about utilizing our rules. It’s gotta be about the fundamentals and techniques that we’ve talked about all through training camp, ’cause we don’t know what it’s gonna look like.”
Looking ahead, Hafley expects more data to emerge as the season progresses, including personnel tendencies, third‑down targets and red‑zone usage.
“In Week 1, however, both sides will have to learn on the fly,” he said.
Miami concluded the 2025 campaign with a 7‑10 record, missing the playoffs for a second straight year, which prompted the dismissal of former head coach Mike McDaniel. Hafley arrived in Miami after serving two seasons as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator.
Sincity Press Staff
1 day ago 4 min read
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