The first half was a back-and-forth affair for the Raiders and Dolphins. Both teams put on long drives and neither team punted. The difference was that the Dolphins finished one of their drives for a touchdown and the Raiders did not to make it a 10-6 game at the half.
The Raiders even got a gift on their first drive when they punted after three plays only to have Calais Campbell run into punter AJ Cole to give the Raiders a second chance. They would drive for a field goal but no more.
At the half, Brock Bowers led the Raiders with 50 yards on four catches. While the rest of the Raiders had 26 yards on four catches.
The Raiders’ running game was suspect again, with the combo of Zamir White and Alexander Mattison running for 18 yards on seven carries (2.6 yards per carry). But it was still a four-point game, so all that wouldn’t matter if they were able to get on track in the third.
Las Vegas got the ball first to start the third, picking up just ten yards on five plays for the first punt (that counted) in the game. The Dolphins answered with a touchdown drive to make it a 17-6 game.
Then, for the first time, the Raiders mounted a drive for a touchdown. And just as had been the case all day, it was the one guy who was gouging the Dolphins who scored it, making a short catch and putting on the jets to streak for the touchdown from 23 yards out. The Raiders tried for two to make it a three-point game, but the Mattison run up the middle was stuffed for a loss to keep it 17-12.
The Dolphins had an answer though, driving for their third touchdown of the game to make it a 24-12 lead with just over ten minutes left in the game.
The Raiders responded, and it was more Brock Bowers to do it. On the drive, Bowers hit ten catches and went over 100 yards receiving (104) for the first time in his career. Ameer Abdullah made the catch in the right flat from ten yards out to finish the drive off with a touchdown to make it a 24-19 game with 4:23 left.
In order for the Raiders to have a shot, they would need to do something they hadn’t done all game long — force a punt or a turnover.
Neither would happen.
In fact, what did happen was Jonnu Smith getting completely wide open and going 57 yards for the touchdown dagger.
The game was over at that point for all intents and purposes, but just for good measure, Gardner Minshew threw an easy, ugly interception on the first play of the next possession to really drive it home.
The Dolphins ran down the clock and added a field goal for the 34-19 final score.
The Raiders fall to 2-8 on the season while the Dolphins improve to 4-6.
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 288 yards and season high three touchdowns.
The Raiders running back combined for 29 yards on 11 carries (2.6 yards per carry).
Bowers finished with 13 catches for 126 yards — both career highs — and a touchdown.
