Nobody outside the building is picking Miami
Malik Willis has thrown 155 passes in four NFL seasons. On Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas he starts a season opener for the first time.
He was asked about the expectations. He did not dress up the answer.
“Expectation versus reality. I mean, people can expect whatever, but when we get out there, we’ll see what they try to do to attack us,” Willis said. “If people can see the future, everybody play the lottery, but people can’t.”
Tennessee drafted him, then traded him to Green Bay, where he spent last season behind Jordan Love. Twenty-two career appearances, seven turnovers, three interceptions and four lost fumbles. That is the entire body of evidence the Raiders have to work with.
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Miami tore the whole thing down
The Dolphins released Tyreek Hill, traded Jaylen Waddle to Denver and cut Tua Tagovailoa loose, which is how the job opened up in the first place. Jeff Hafley replaced Mike McDaniel and inherited one of the youngest rosters in the league. Miami could open the year with rookies as either the starter or the top backup at 10 of 22 positions, including both starting receivers, third-round picks Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas.
De’Von Achane survived the clear-out. He gives Willis a running game to lean on, and Willis expects to add to it himself.
“Just go out there and have as much fun as possible,” he said. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime, bro. Not many people get to play and start football games in the National Football League.”
Hafley, a defensive coordinator in Green Bay before this, spent his preparation watching tape of the 2025 Seahawks to work out what Klint Kubiak likes to call.
Cousins starts, Mendoza waits
Las Vegas has its own quarterback question and has answered it for now. Kirk Cousins opens as the starter, with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza kept back. Cousins turned 38 in August, plays his 175th regular-season game on Sunday and needs 300 passing yards to reach 45,000 for his career.
Kubiak, 39 and starting his own head coaching career, is banking on that mileage.
“We’re going to let Kirk go, but everybody’s got to be ready,” Kubiak said. “The backup has got to be ready.”
Tight end Brock Bowers could miss several games with a knee problem. Ashton Jeanty is available despite an ankle issue and will share carries with Mike Washington Jr. Two teams, two quarterbacks nobody planned on, one afternoon to find out.
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