We move to the defensive side of the ball for the Raiders. While the Las Vegas offense put 27 points on the board, the defense held the Dolphins to just 13 points, with their lone TD coming off a turnover. They shut them out for the rest of the game, which was nearly the entire second half.
So, let's take a look at the standout performances on the Raiders defense.
Ballers
DE Kwity Paye
In his Raiders debut, Paye got started early and kept it going the whole game. He had a tackle for loss on the third play of the game, then his first sack on the second Dolphins possession, and another run stuff on the third drive and the Raiders were up 17-3 after the ensuing possession. He shared a couple more sacks in the fourth quarter to finish with a career high 4 QB hits and tie
career highs for sacks (two) and tackles for loss (two) and tied for the team lead with six combined tackles.
LB Nakobe Dean, LB Quay Walker
Two more veterans making their debuts and making their presence felt. Dean and Walker also tied for the team lead with six tackles each. Dean got things started by making the stop on third down to force a punt on the Dolphins' opening possession. Then in the second quarter, with the Raiders up 10-0, the two of them both got in the Miami backfield, leading to a tackle for loss. Two plays later, in third and one, Walker sealed the edge, while Dean made the tackle for loss to end the drive.
Late in the third quarter, on third and five, Miami QB Malik Willis escaped into the right flat and Dean showed off his closing speed to sack the fleet footed QB in the open field for a ten-yard loss. And the 41-yard field goal attempt was missed. With time running out in the fourth quarter, Walker came in on a pick play to open things up for Paye to come on the stunt for the sack. Then Dean would later finish it off, making a tackle on a three-yard scramble to bring up third and long. They didn't convert and ended any chance of a comeback. But just for good measure, Walker recovered the fumble that officially ended it.
DT Folorunso Fatukasi
The big nose tackle continued the fine play he displayed in the preseason. He got the start and made the tackle on the first play of the game. The next possession was a three-and-out with him making the run stop on first down and sharing a sack on second down. Then on consecutive plays in the second quarter, he got a pressure and then forced a hold on his man to put the Dolphins in first and 25. In the second half, he had another run stop and a pressure with a batted pass that he nearly tipped to himself, but couldn't pull it in.
S Treydan Stukes, S Jeremy Chinn
Stukes got things started by teaming up on the tackle in the opening kick return. Then Chinn had two tackles on the opening drive including a stop on a scramble for no gain. The Raiders had two takeaways in the game. Stukes making a deep interception in the third quarter and Chinn forcing a fumble to officially end the game late in the fourth quarter. They each put up five tackles.
Dylan Laube, Cody White, Segun Olubi
These are the special teams Ballers. Laube had two huge kick returns in this game, one that went 45 yards to help set up the Raiders' second TD drive. The other went for 50 yards to set up their third TD drive. Olubi laid a key block on that second kick return. He also had three tackles on returns. White also had three tackles on returns, but none bigger than the one in which he raced all the way downfield to stop a 79-yard return short of a score. That supreme effort paid off as the Dolphins would end up going three-and-out and losing five yards in the process, then miss the 41-yard field goal attempt. White would get a game ball for his efforts. Fitting for a game baller.
Busters
DE Malcolm Koonce
He played 29 snaps on the game and recorded just one assisted tackle. And it was on a 12-yard reception he allowed. He also gave up a five-yard run. He didn't affect anything in terms of pressures either as far as I could tell. Just pretty much a non-factor in playing 52% of the defensive snaps.
See the Ballers & Busters for the offense
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders Ballers & Busters on defense Week 1 vs Dolphins
