FSM Essential Preview: Raiders vs Dolphins - Week 16

Photo Credit: Allegiant Stadium

FSM Essential Preview: Raiders vs. Dolphins – Week 16

Las Vegas Raiders (7-7) | Miami Dolphins (9-5)

The Las Vegas Raiders have another prime time slot, and they can potentially play spoiler to the Miami Dolphins with the whole world watching on Saturday night after Christmas.

The Raiders lost 30-27 to the Los Angeles Chargers last Thursday, making their playoff pursuit mathematically complex. As of Dec. 22, the Raiders have a 1% chance of making the postseason according to the New York Times. After finishing 5-11 last season, the Dolphins are still in the hunt for the playoffs at 9-5 overall.

But who will be the starting quarterback for the Raiders this weekend in their last home game of the season? The answer isn’t clear yet. After Derek Carr’s injury last week in the first quarter, Marcus Mariota stepped in for the first time in over a year. The former Heisman winner threw for 226 yards with two touchdowns, — one passing and one rushing.

Carr is labeled as limited, splitting reps with Mariota at practice.

“Yeah, you can always trust me. If I think I can play, I’m capable of playing,” Carr said. “I think that the coaches and our trainers will make the right decision. I’ve been completely honest with them the whole time about everything and they’ve seen it first-hand. I’ve been in here every day that we’re allowed to get treatment and all those kinds of things, doing all my tests and all of that. But if it’s up to me, I’m going to do everything I can to be on that field.”

But Carr was cheering for Mariota’s performance.

“I’m not going to lie to you, I was really happy for him as a man and as a supporter and as a quarterback because this game is tough and sometimes we go through things,” Carr said. “So, to see him get the ability to lead our team, it was awesome. I was really happy for him.”

The injury bug continues to loom around the Raiders, as key players Damon Arnette, Clelin Ferrell and Nicholas Morrow are still questionable for this week.

Las Vegas will have their hands full with a hungry Miami team who are still looking to sneak their way into the playoffs.

Last year’s struggling performance landed them the opportunity to draft rookie quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa — who took over the reins from veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick earlier this season.

It paid off, to say the least. The rookie quarterback out of Alabama has 1,359 passing yards with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions after taking the starting job. Last week, Miami beat the New England Patriots; eliminating them from the playoffs plus ending the Pats’ 11-year playoff run that included five Super Bowl appearances and three Vince Lombardi Trophies.

“He’s a very talented, calm, cool, accurate, quick-arm passer,” Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said. “He’s tough, man. He’s got surprising mobility. I don’t think people realize he can keep the ball on his own where he can do some damage. But quarterbacks, running backs, linemen, everybody. Coaches, fans, we all struggled with no offseason.”

ROSTER CONNECTIONS

Raiders T Sam Young spent three seasons with the Dolphins (2016- 18), appearing in 30 games with eight starts at left and right tackle.
Raiders LB Raekwon McMillan was originally drafted by the Dolphins. He played two seasons in Miami before joining the Silver and Black in 2020.
Dolphins RB DeAndré Washington was originally drafted by the Raiders in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft, totaling 1,122 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in addition to 88 receptions for 613 yards and one TD over his four seasons with the club.
Dolphins WR Lynn Bowden Jr. was originally a third-round pick (80th overall) by the Raiders in the 2020 NFL draft.
Dolphins assistant offensive line coach Lemuel Jeanpierre served as the assistant offensive line coach for the Raiders from 2018-19.
Dolphins senior personnel executive Reggie McKenzie spent seven years (2012-18) as the general manager of the Raiders.
Dolphins offensive line coach Steve Marshall served on the same staff as Raiders senior offensive assistant John Morton with the Jets in 2017, serving as offensive line coach and offensive coordinator, respectively. Marshall also served on the same staff as Raiders wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett with the Packers in 2014, serving as assistant offensive line coach and wide receivers coach, respectively.