Despite the one-sided result, things didn't go too badly for the Raiders on Sunday. And when you're in the middle of a six-game losing streak, it's important to find the little positives that suggest things won't always be this way.
So, as always, let's start there.
Baller
TE Brock Bowers
Bowers set for catches by a rookie tight end (13) in a game while rushing for more than 100 yards (126) for the first time in his young career. He just seems to get better and better. That's saying a lot considering he's already put up some record-breaking numbers this season.
His first catch of the game went for 14 yards, giving the Raiders the lead and scoring on the ten, and they added a field goal on their first drive. On the second scoring drive, he had three catches for 38 yards, including an 11-yard catch on third down and 10 yards on the 18th, and they added another field goal, making it 10-6 at halftime .
In the third quarter, with the Raiders on third-and-9 from the Miami 23, he went into motion, Gardner Minshew saw a single coverage, threw it to him in the flat, and Bowers did the rest, firing a cannon into the end zone , fended off a tackle and scored a goal, so the game ended 17:12 with five points.
After falling behind 24-12 in the fourth quarter, Bowers went back to work and made three first-down catches, including a third down conversion, a fourth down conversion and the final catch that gave them the first place and the goal on the ten. Three plays later they were in the end zone and were back up to a one-score game at 24-19. After that, things got out of hand.
LT Kolton Miller
His main job is to protect the blind side of Gardner Minshew and he did that perfectly in this game. No pressure or penalties from his side and I didn't see any instances of his man making a run stop either. Just a nice, mistake-free game for Miller, which he desperately needed .
DT Adam Butler, DT John Jenkins
Jenkins had two run stuffs on the Dolphins' first drive; one for a loss and the other for first-and-goal from five, forcing them to end up going for fourth-and-1 to score the touchdown.
The first real stop on the Raiders defense came from Butler. The Dolphins drove first and goal. On the Dolphins' second drive, they were first and scoring again. Butler was stopped and Jenkins made the stop for one yard. Two plays later, Butler made the sack on third down, forcing the Dolphins to settle for a field goal.
On the next full drive, the Dolphins were first and scoring again and Jenkins beat his man at the line and drew a holding penalty.
Butler would add two more tackles for a loss to the game in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with five combined tackles, two for a loss, a sack and a QB hit. Jenkins had four combined tackles, two for a loss.
EN Charles Snowden
Snowden went to the backfield to make a tackle for loss on the second play of the game. It was a preview of the day that lay ahead.
The next attack came in the third quarter, where he forced an incomplete coverage and applied pressure on another play that resulted in a tackle for loss. He later added a pass breakup.
Honorable mention
LB Robert Spillane — Led the team with 11 tackles, four of which came on runs of three yards or less.
WR Jakobi Meyers – Had crucial third-down plays on each of the Raiders' first two scoring drives. His 20 yards on one run led the Raiders in rushing.