Raiders Opponent QB Spotlight: Tua Tagovailoa

The Las Vegas Raiders will take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been playing at a high level this season.

Fresh off a 16-12 victory over the New York Jets, the Las Vegas Raiders will travel to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to take on the Miami Dolphins.

The Raiders are 5-5 and are firmly in the hunt for the playoffs in the AFC. They have won their last two games since Interim Coach Antonio Pierce took over.

The Dolphins are 6-3 and boast the highest-scoring offense in the league at 31.7 points per game. Coach Mike McDaniel has implemented a system that has maximized the talent on his roster.

McDaniel has also gotten great play out of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has struggled with injury-riddled seasons and inconsistent play, but McDaniel has been able to get the most out of him this season.

Tagovailoa was the fifth overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to a National Championship in relief of Jalen Hurts. He became one of the most sought-after quarterback prospects after that.

In his rookie season, Tagovailoa appeared in 10 games, completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,814 yards and 11 touchdowns. He sustained broken ribs in 2021, missing three games. He also injured his finger later that season and missed another game.

The Dolphins were not winning with Tagovailoa, as there was tension between him and former Coach Brian Flores. Once McDaniel was hired, he made an effort to build a system around Tagovailoa that would maximize his talents.

The Las Vegas Raiders will face Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is playing at a high level / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

It has worked out so far, as Tagovailoa is having the best season of his career. He has completed 69 percent of his passes for 2,609 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is operating McDaniel's system at an efficient level with plenty of talent in the skill positions.

Tagovailoa played against the Raiders in his rookie season, completing 77 percent of his passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in a victory. He was replaced late in the game by Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led a game-winning drive.

Tagovailoa’s best trait is his ability to get the ball out quickly. As soon as he gets to the top of his drop-back, he is letting the ball go and putting it in the hands of his playmakers.

The Raiders’ defense has been playing at a high level, but now face their toughest test with Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. The Raiders will need to force him to make mistakes and get him out of the flow of the offense in order to win their third straight game.

The Silver and Black will head out on the road to South Beach to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST.

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