This year's schedule has sent the Dolphins on long road trips bookended around lengthy stretches in their home building. Coming off a two-game road trip against a pair of playoff teams from 2023, the Dolphins are back home for a couple of games against two clubs that were on the outside looking in last season. Up first, the Las Vegas Raiders, who traveled here last year, also in Week 11.
Scheduling quirks aside, the Dolphins are looking to build on the success from Monday night, which was a continuation of progressive performances against both the Cardinals and Bills. The win over the Rams was paramount to kickstart a winning streak, which Miami will need to get back into the playoff race.
Since quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to the lineup, the Dolphins are third in the NFL in drive success rate (56 percent, including two kneel-down possessions), and sixth in points per possession (2.85). Coming into that three-game stretch, the Dolphins were scoring just 11.6 points per game but have averaged 25.7 per contest over these three weeks.
While the offense is finding its rhythm, the defense found its mojo with the return of defensive tackle Zach Sieler, cornerback Kader Kohou and safety Jevon Holland. The three players combined for 11 tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits and two passes defensed. Their returns helped the Fins hold Los Angeles out of the end zone and without a third down conversion until late in the third quarter.
If the Dolphins are going to mount a run, that type of complementary football would go a long way towards achieving a win streak.
This week, it'll be Gardner Minshew under center for the Raiders. Minshew started the season for the Raiders but has been removed from three games in favor of a backup quarterback.
First, it was Aiden O'Connell, who started the game in Miami last year. He's unavailable, however, as he's on the injured reserve list. In his place, former Cardinals and Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder saw some playing time in the fourth quarter of the Raiders' Week 9 loss in Cincinnati.
Defensively, the conversation starts and ends with Maxx Crosby. The defensive end is a three-time All Pro and has 58.5 sacks in just his sixth NFL season.
"Maxx Crosby is probably as disruptive of a player that's in the NFL," Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. "I think from an offensive standpoint, it's not one person's job in terms of he's going to move around, and the routes have to be crisp and Tua's timing has to be right, all the cylinders to execute against him because he's not only a talented player, but he's a high-effort, high-strain player."
The Dolphins are just 1.5 games back in the standings for the final Wild Card position. There's a lot of football left in a conference steeped in parity. To borrow a Raiders-ism – just win, baby.
Make sure to check out the Injury Report and the team's official social media accounts 90 minutes before kickoff to see who is active for the game.
Watch the game live on Sunday, November 17 at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS, and listen on the Dolphins Radio Network and view the Game Center for the latest coverage.
