The Miami Dolphins couldn’t have asked for a better Week 1 matchup for one of their biggest question marks
The Miami Dolphins will have their hands full bottling up Raiders TE Brock Bowers. But the Week 1 draw is perfect for Miami’s young roster in a big way regardless.
The Miami Dolphins open the 2026 NFL regular season against the Las Vegas Raiders, and in one significant way, the matchup could not be better for Miami. There’s been plenty made about the questions around the Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver room (and their secondary).
…have you seen the Raiders’ wide receiver group?
The Miami Dolphins get a great chance to break in a young secondary against the Raiders’ wide receiver room
Now…let’s not get this twisted. Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers is a true centerpiece of a passing attack. That much is obvious. And Bowers is a legitimate nightmare to cover. But beyond Bowers? The Raiders’ top wide receivers are second-year receiver Jack Bech, free agent signing Jaylen Nailor, and Tre Tucker. That trio represents the best Las Vegas can put on the perimeter, and it’s a group that Miami should aspire to contend with in their own young secondary.
First-round draft pick Chris Johnson should be expected to play 100% of snaps. He’ll be sharing the secondary alongside what figures to be a combination of Jason Marshall and JuJu Brents at cornerback. There will be questions. But here’s what matters: the lack of weaponry on the perimeter for the Raiders should allow Miami’s defensive backs to hold up against those targets well enough. And, hopefully, funnel attention to Bowers.
Bowers is going to be a problem either way. But if the Dolphins can scheme around him with bracket coverage or safety help, the rest of the Dolphins secondary can test their mettle against the rest of the Raiders’ firepower and dare them to punish Miami for it. It gives the Dolphins their best chance to win in Week 1, and as good a chance as you could hope for given the questions that still linger in the secondary.
One thing is for certain: Miami’s secondary will face stiffer tests as the season progresses. But drawing the Raiders first? That’s about as good of a draw as the schedule could have offered.
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