Like the Las Vegas Raiders‘ season so far, the 2024 NFL campaign hasn’t gone according to plan for the Miami Dolphins.
Miami (3-6) opened its season with a 20-17 win over Jacksonville, but adversity quickly followed. During the Dolphins’ eventual 31-10 Week 2 loss versus the Buffalo Bills, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa exited after suffering a concussion in a collision with Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin.
That threw Tagovailoa’s season and career into question given the Alabama alum’s history of head injuries. Tagovailoa would miss each of Miami’s next four games.
With Tagovailoa sidelined, the Dolphins lost three of four and fell to 2-4 on the season. Tagovailoa made his return in Week 8 in a 28-27 loss versus Arizona.
The Dolphins lost another one-score game the following week at Buffalo (30-27), but finally rebounded with a 23-15 Monday Night Football victory over the Los Angeles Rams this past week.
Despite their record, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce knows the challenge that the Dolphins bring to the table.
The Raiders are familiar with the Dolphins, too. Operating then in an interim capacity, Miami actually handed Pierce his first loss as Las Vegas’ head coach in a 20-13 defeat from Hard Rock Stadium last season in Week 11.
Pierce was asked if there is anything that he and the Raiders can take from last season’s matchup in Miami.
“Yeah, I think feeling their speed because that’s real. Those dudes are fast, man, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4. I don’t think anybody’s at a 4.5, I think that’s illegal for their scouting department. But it’s real. I think for us to feel that with 10 [Tyreek Hill], with 17 [Jaylen Waddle], 28 [De’Von Achane] didn’t play in that game as much, and I believe 31 [Raheem Mostert].
“So, just getting those guys going, understanding the tempo and the speed and the efficiency that Tua plays at. I think that was really good, and that’s good film for us to go back and now watch as we look at the other games this year as well,” Pierce said.
In its win over the Rams on Monday night, Tagovailoa completed 20-of-28 passes for 207 yards with one touchdown pass to Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill.
Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. PT from Hard Rock Stadium and the game will air on CBS.