Raiders fans are getting goosebumps over an eerie connection after Week 1 win brought back an unforgettable memory
The Las Vegas Raiders may not even get close, but the last time they started a season this way was the Super Bowl in 2002.
The Las Vegas Raiders opened their 2026 season with a massive win over the Miami Dolphins. The 14-point victory marks the franchise’s largest margin in a season opener since 2002, the same year the Raiders finished 11-5, won the AFC West, and reached the Super Bowl.
The parallel has the fan base buzzing, but plenty of reasons temper expectations. The win probably says more about Miami than it does about Las Vegas. The Dolphins look like they might be the worst team in the NFL. The Raiders looked great in this game, but that could change next week against the Los Angeles Chargers. We could see a completely different team. We’ll find out as the season progresses.
The 2002 comparison is fun, but slow down
That 2002 squad won its second game by 13 over the Pittsburgh Steelers, scored 52 points on the Tennessee Titans in Week 4, and hung 49 on the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 to start the season 4-0. They went on to lose the Super Bowl against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it remains the franchise’s last appearance on the biggest stage.
After posting the stat on Twitter following the game, Raiders fans responded with a mix of caution and nervous energy. “Don’t tell us that,” “settle down,” “pace yourself.” And they’re right to pump the brakes. The facts are the facts, but that doesn’t mean history is about to repeat itself. Most people should hold their brakes on this Raiders team. Las Vegas still has a chance to win six games. This team could still get nowhere near the playoff race, and that is fine.
As long as the Raiders improve on last year and double their win total from three to six, this team is still in a good spot. What head coach Klint Kubiak showed on Sunday against the Dolphins was already better than pretty much anything the Raiders produced last season under Pete Carroll. The offense was effective. It won’t always look that way, but the ball moved well. Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions, yet he operated the offense fairly well overall. The running game was great, and Las Vegas unlocked Ashton Jeanty as a weapon in his debut.
The defense matched the energy. The pass rush was impressive, the defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and the secondary was stout. A lot of rookies made big plays in this game, which is an encouraging sign for a team still building its roster.
Enjoy it, but keep perspective
Hit the brakes, yes, but also understand this team will grow throughout the year. There will be moments when the Raiders look good, and Sunday was one of them. This team probably isn’t headed to the Super Bowl. But if Las Vegas can stack improvement week over week under Kubiak, the 2026 season could still represent a meaningful step forward for a franchise desperate for one.
