Raiderstation

Nobody made a thread about this yet..... weird. Put your observations/predictions here in the run up to the game.

I think the Raiders still win this game, even without Bowers, but his absence definitely changes the math. This might be the opportunity to see Connor Heyward, the favorite FA for some members, actually get a chunk of playing time. It's also the chance to see our questionable pass defense vs what was the worst pass-catching group in the NFL - until the Bowers news.

The most interesting thing for me to watch in this game is the defense and how Leonard calls it. It still might not tell us much, given the opponent but it's the first glimpse we'll have.

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2026 6:18 pm OK I will. But a new center and shuffling of the guards so far is not going to convince me that this is gonna be a good offensive line. I bet if you saw offensive lines of every team ranked right now, the Raiders would be still be near the bottom.

...while I agree about were there to be a ranking at this time, I also know that between beyond poor coaching, youth, injuries, and a lack of depth, that unit showed far worse than it could have, and with our new top 3 center, miller, who I believe is a top 10 , or so, hen healthy, being healthy again, (at least for now) who I believe can be more than solid, and with now good coaching, and including specific to the o line, where we have some real potential in a few of the kids drafted over the last 2-3 years, we have the makings of an already better than average o line in the near future, and one which can grow from there.
...I also think the play calling will make them all look better, but just knowing their assignments alone, and not having that uncertainty on every play, when facing big, fast opponents who will take full advantage of this, and make even good players look bad under those circumstances, I honestly expect this unit to begin to be on the same page sooner, rather than later.
....the kids, especially, will make mistakes, but if there is a positive to last year, at least some of the new, and newer guys were able to get more NFL strong during those otherwise wasted last few years...
...of course, none of this ,means anything until we actually see it, or not, on the filed, but I can see us making a pretty quick turn around with the o line, if they can stay relatively healthy....

Goodtimes333 wrote: Fri Sep 11, 2026 8:54 pm Fatukasi needs to play a lot of snaps. He's better than Butler imo. Kwity Paye is pretty solid all around & Maxx is who he is. Hard to have two absolute stud edge guys so in that regard having Paye is no slouch. He's not weak against the run & he can impact the passer. Dtackle has me worried. It'll be a good test. Miami has a legit center and two big ass guards

The official depth chart lists Butler ahead of Fatukasi
https://www.raiders.com/team/depth-chart

Both teams were pretty bad last year; and saying that Miami not very good means an easy win for the raiders….over the last 20 years; how many games were the raiders supposed to win over an easy team; not many….

Miami in the same boat as the raiders and they also have a new HC….think it will be good game to watch just to see the starter play their first game….

Attyla wrote: Sat Sep 12, 2026 4:28 am The official depth chart lists Butler ahead of Fatukasi
https://www.raiders.com/team/depth-chart

That's cool, I'll still take Fatukasi based on the limited snaps I've seen so far here and now. Key word is limited. Butler was pretty good a few years ago. But Foley was picked up and day one had some great eye test plays. He's played some good ball with the Jets & Jags also. I saw absolutely nothing from Butler. That's just me

Raiderman4 wrote: Sat Sep 12, 2026 4:07 am Honestly just replacing merideth alone should improve the offensive line ten fold, Merideth is the worst center I have literally ever seen.

B-b-but he's like Jason Kelce!

I think for our team to be successful we need to control the clock on offense. Im guessing thats Kubiaks thing also because I really worry about our defensive side of the ball. We have never had any synergy on defense in a long time.

SuperRaider wrote: Sat Sep 12, 2026 5:28 am Both teams were pretty bad last year; and saying that Miami not very good means an easy win for the raiders….over the last 20 years; how many games were the raiders supposed to win over an easy team; not many….

Miami in the same boat as the raiders and they also have a new HC….think it will be good game to watch just to see the starter play their first game….

If Malik "Whutchu talkin bout" Willis, looks like prime Dan Marino tomorrow we got a problem. We should easily win on paper. So can I kick back and just enjoy a nice win tomorrow?

rich72 wrote: Sat Sep 12, 2026 6:54 pm If Malik "Whutchu talkin bout" Willis, looks like prime Dan Marino tomorrow we got a problem. We should easily win on paper. So can I kick back and just enjoy a nice win tomorrow?

Yeah; knowing our luck he will have the game of his life

we usually, usually, have a sticky game to start the season, an above expectations performance or, we catch the opponents cold and win, giving us false hope we might not be as shitty, again, only for us to crash back to earth a week later.
this year we play a fellow bottom feeder, win and its expected lose and expect more raiders tickets being sold on teemu, its a horrible game to start the season with and one im finding hard to get motivated for.
did we fix anything over the preseason and do we learn anything today?
the more pertinent question might be what's everyone drinking today.

charlieinblack wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2026 6:32 am we usually, usually, have a sticky game to start the season, an above expectations performance or, we catch the opponents cold and win, giving us false hope we might not be as shitty, again, only for us to crash back to earth a week later.
this year we play a fellow bottom feeder, win and its expected lose and expect more raiders tickets being sold on teemu, its a horrible game to start the season with and one im finding hard to get motivated for.
did we fix anything over the preseason and do we learn anything today?
the more pertinent question might be what's everyone drinking today.

Pacifico, my summer beer

SuperRaider wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2026 3:31 am Yeah; knowing our luck he will have the game of his life

It's an undeniable pattern. Some other bottom dweller comes in and has a great game against us. The following week the media talks about he's turned his game around, and then he promptly falls back into the crapper. It also gives false hope to the other team's fanbase.

The reality is "Nah, you only looked good because you sucked less against a really bad team."

Beating Miami is important for confidence moving forward because. well, at the very least, we need to beat the teams we're supposed to beat.

raidersince63 wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2026 7:12 am Beating Miami is important for confidence moving forward because. well, at the very least, we need to beat the teams we're supposed to beat.

Haha I agree but dont know who we're "supposed" to beat.

The fin fans have this game penciled in as a win also.

KillerRaider30 wrote: Sun Sep 13, 2026 7:22 am Haha I agree but dont know who we're "supposed" to beat.

The fin fans have this game penciled in as a win also.

Yeah I know a lot of Miami fans who think they have this game. Im not worried about our win total for the season but please win this one. I will never hear the end of it

23-13 raiders