Raiders Opponent: Miami Dolphins Defense

The Las Vegas Raiders will face a tough Miami Dolphins defense with stars and an experienced coordinator.

The Las Vegas Raiders are riding a wave of momentum into Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

The Dolphins have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season and will be the biggest test for Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce and how his team is playing.

The Dolphins are 6-3 this season and have won games because of their explosive offense, but they have an impressive defensive unit as well.

With disruptive linemen, lockdown cornerbacks and athletic linebackers, Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s arrival has helped the Dolphins take their defense to another level.

Fangio’s defense still needs to prevent teams from getting into the end zone, as they have allowed 25 points per game. They rank 12th in total defense and have allowed the 12th-fewest passing yards and the 13th-fewest rushing yards.

Teams are not moving the ball particularly well against the Dolphins, but when they are, they end up scoring. The Dolphins will need to keep teams from scoring if they want to truly be a Super Bowl contender. The Dolphins have allowed more than 33 points per game in their three losses.

Fangio has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL for several years and has called defenses for the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears before arriving in Miami. His defenses have been excellent at almost every stop.

On the defensive line, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is the man in the middle who is one of the more athletic run-stoppers in the league who can also rush the passer. On the edge, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips have formed a great pass-rush duo, combining for 10.5 sacks.

The Miami Dolphins' defense is playing at a high level under Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Linebacker David Long Jr. is their leading tackler, and Andrew Van Ginkel and Jerome Baker have played well behind the defensive line as well. In the secondary, third-year safety Jevon Holland has developed into one of the best players in the league at his position.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey recently returned from a knee injury, which has bolstered the Dolphins’ defense tremendously. Other cornerbacks like Kader Kohou and Eli Apple have filled in nicely in his absence.

The Raiders’ offense has been improving in the last few weeks, but facing a Dolphins’ defense led by Fangio, Wilkins and Ramsey will be a tough test for quarterback Aidan O’Connell and his team.

The Silver and Black will head 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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