LAS VEGAS — The Miami Dolphins opened the 2026 season with 10 first- or second-year starters and the growing pains that come with them, falling 27-13 to the Las Vegas Raiders as eight penalties for 61 yards stalled drives and handed the home team favorable field position throughout.

Miami’s young roster logged 610 snaps on offense and defense, and Head Coach Jeff Hafley pointed to self-inflicted mistakes as the difference. “Part of the plan to win was to keep the ball moving forward,” Hafley said. “I thought the penalties killed us. It forced us into a lot of passing situations that were crucial that you really don’t want to be in against that team.”

Las Vegas built a 17-3 halftime lead behind a ground game that ran 37 times for 130 yards — 3.5 yards per carry — and faced third-and-7-plus only three times in the opening two quarters. Running back Ashton Jeanty and rookie Mike Washington combined for 11 carries and 76 yards in the first half, and Jeanty added a pair of receiving touchdowns out of advantageous matchups created by early-down success on the ground.

Rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who played all 68 defensive snaps and finished with 14 combined tackles, said the Dolphins’ run defense must improve. “They’re really physical,” Rodriguez said. “They know what they like to do and they do it well. A lot of it was self-inflicted. We got to set the edge; we got to play with good pad level. A lot of stuff like that, just basic football, kind of the theme through the whole game. We’ve got to be able to stop the run to get into third and pass.”

Rookie cornerback Chris Johnson also played all 68 snaps, recording 11 tackles — including one for loss — and two passes defensed. Wide receiver Caleb Douglas posted five catches for 94 yards in his NFL debut, and safety Michael Taaffe grabbed an interception but took accountability for one of the Raiders’ passing touchdowns. The Raiders’ average starting field position after kickoffs was the 44-yard line.

Trailing by 14 with two minutes left in the third quarter, running back Jaylen Wright ripped a 79-yard kick return to the Las Vegas 18-yard line, but kicker Riley Patterson missed the ensuing 41-yard field goal attempt. “No one is sitting in there feeling good right now, and I’m certainly not feeling good right now,” Hafley said. “I am proud of the way the guys fought.”

Miami travels to San Francisco for its Week 2 matchup, where the 0-1 Dolphins will look to clean up the penalty issues and early-down run defense that defined the opener.