LAS VEGAS — The Raiders spent an entire offseason talking about establishing a new identity under head coach Clint Kubiak. On Sunday, they finally got their first chance to show what that could look like.
And Ashton Jeanty was at the center of it.
After an up-and-down rookie season, Jeanty was involved in nearly every aspect of the Raiders’ offense, surpassing 100 yards on the ground while also making an impact as a receiver.
Jeanty scored twice through the air, including a 13-yard touchdown reception from Kirk Cousins. The score also marked the 300th regular-season touchdown pass of Cousins’ career.
The production on the ground extended beyond Jeanty. Rookie running back Mike Washington found success when his number was called as Las Vegas consistently created running lanes behind an offensive line that featured offseason addition Tyler Linderbaum at center.
Throughout training camp, Raiders players repeatedly described Kubiak’s run scheme as detailed and intricate. In the opener, some of that work began to translate to the field.
Cousins also spread the football around.
With Brock Bowers unavailable, Michael Mayer saw an increased role at tight end, while Jack Bech hauled in his first regular-season touchdown. Bech told NBC Las Vegas before the season that he felt considerably more confident and comfortable in the offense entering his second year, and that confidence showed in the opener.
The Raiders’ offseason additions also made their presence felt defensively.
Kwity Paye consistently found his way into the backfield, recording a sack and multiple tackles for loss. Linebacker Nakobe Dean added a sack of his own, while rookie safety Treydan Stukes came away with an interception in his first NFL start.
Stukes became the first Raiders rookie to record an interception in his NFL debut since Vann McElroy in 1982.
Maxx Crosby also added a fourth-quarter sack after an offseason filled with questions surrounding his future in Las Vegas.
Still, the opener wasn’t without mistakes.
A Cousins interception in the third quarter helped Miami swing momentum and pull back into the game after Las Vegas had controlled much of the first half. The Raiders were forced to respond after watching their lead tighten.
That response may have been one of the more encouraging takeaways of the night.
There were plenty of positive signs from a team featuring a new coaching staff and several new pieces on both sides of the football — but also enough mistakes to reinforce that the Raiders remain a work in progress.
For the first time, though, Las Vegas got to see what its new identity could look like when everything starts to come together.