Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Leveraging Short-Field Offense and Defensive Stops to Dominate the Raiders

For the Miami Dolphins, Week 7’s matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders will be won in the trenches of short-field football—turning good field position into points and stopping the Raiders when they’re within scoring range. Short-field offense (drives starting inside the opponent’s 40-yard line) and red-zone defensive stops are two areas where the Dolphins have excelled this season, and they’ll need to lean on both to bounce back from the Week 6 loss to the Chiefs. The Raiders, meanwhile, struggle with giving up short-field points (allowing a 70% scoring rate on opponent drives starting inside their 40) and converting their own red-zone trips (just 52% touchdown rate). Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Leveraging Short-Field Offense and Defensive Stops to Dominate the Raiders breaks down how the Dolphins will capitalize on short-field opportunities, shut down the Raiders’ red-zone attacks, and use these two factors to build a decisive lead. For the Dolphins, this game isn’t just about big plays—it’s about winning the small, high-impact moments that turn close matchups into blowouts.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Leveraging Short-Field Offense and Defensive Stops to Dominate the Raiders first focuses on the Dolphins’ short-field offense, a strength that has flown under the radar but been critical to their wins. Entering Week 7, Miami ranks 8th in the NFL in short-field scoring rate (78%), meaning nearly 8 out of 10 drives starting inside the opponent’s 40 end with points. This success comes from a mix of controlled aggression and tailored playcalling: instead of forcing deep passes, the Dolphins rely on quick, precise routes and power running to move the ball into the end zone. For example, on short-field first downs, they’ll run a “power O” play with Raheem Mostert, using extra blockers to push through the Raiders’ defensive line (which struggles with gap control on short-yardage plays). On second-and-medium, Tua Tagovailoa will target Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle on “slant-and-go” routes—short enough to be safe but with the potential to turn into touchdowns if the receiver beats coverage. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith has emphasized that “short-field offense is about efficiency, not flash. We don’t need to throw a 30-yard pass—we just need to pick up 5 yards at a time until we’re in the end zone.” By continuing this efficient approach against the Raiders, the Dolphins can turn special teams gains or defensive stops into points, building a lead that’s hard for Las Vegas to overcome. This short-field success isn’t just about scoring—it’s about demoralizing the Raiders’ defense, which has a history of collapsing after giving up early points.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Leveraging Short-Field Offense and Defensive Stops to Dominate the Raiders then turns to the Dolphins’ red-zone defense, a unit that has proven it can shut down opponents when the game is on the line. Miami ranks 12th in the NFL in red-zone stop rate (42%), meaning they prevent opponents from scoring on nearly half of their trips inside the 20-yard line. This success is built on two key strategies: gap-stacking to stop the run and tight man coverage to limit passing options. Against the Raiders, who rely on Josh Jacobs’ power runs and Davante Adams’ red-zone routes, the Dolphins will double down on these tactics. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will use “8-man boxes” to clog run lanes, with Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler taking on double teams to free up linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Mohamed Kamara to tackle Jacobs behind the line. When the Raiders pass, Xavien Howard will shadow Adams in the end zone, using his 6’1” frame to contest jump balls—something he’s done successfully 12 times this season. “Red-zone defense is about not giving up easy points,” Fangio said. “The Raiders want to score quickly, so we need to make them earn every yard.” By stopping the Raiders’ red-zone attacks, the Dolphins can flip momentum—turning a potential Raiders touchdown into a field goal (or no points at all) and keeping the scoreboard in their favor. This defensive resilience will be especially important in the second half, when the Raiders are likely to push for a comeback.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Leveraging Short-Field Offense and Defensive Stops to Dominate the Raiders emphasizes how the Miami Dolphins’ special teams unit will set up short-field opportunities for the offense. Special teams is often the unsung hero of short-field football, and the Miami Dolphins’ special teams unit has the tools to put the offense in prime position. Punter Jake Bailey has pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line 7 times this season, forcing teams to start drives with poor field position—and the Raiders are no exception. If Bailey can pin Las Vegas inside their 10, the Dolphins’ defense has a chance to force a three-and-out, giving the offense a short field (starting inside the Raiders’ 40) to work with. The return unit, led by Jaylen Waddle (9.8 yards per punt return), is another weapon: a 20-yard punt return could set the offense up inside the Raiders’ 30, turning a routine drive into a scoring opportunity. Even kickoff coverage plays a role—by forcing the Raiders to start their drives at their own 20 (instead of a longer return), the defense can keep Las Vegas from building momentum. “Our job is to give the offense a head start,” special teams coordinator Danny Crossman said. The Miami Dolphins’ special teams unit has also practiced “pooch kickoffs” to pin the Raiders deep, a tactic that worked well against the Patriots in Week 4. By excelling in these areas, the special teams unit can create the short-field opportunities the offense needs to score early and often.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Leveraging Short-Field Offense and Defensive Stops to Dominate the Raiders also highlights how the Miami Dolphins’ interior defensive line will shut down the Raiders’ red-zone run game. Jacobs is the Raiders’ primary red-zone weapon (he has 2 of the team’s 4 red-zone touchdowns), but he struggles against teams that can clog the middle of the field—and that’s exactly what the Miami Dolphins’ interior defensive line does best. Wilkins and Sieler are two of the best run-stopping defensive tackles in the NFL: Wilkins has 18 run stops this season, while Sieler has 15, and both excel at shedding blocks to tackle runners behind the line. Against the Raiders’ red-zone run plays (which are mostly up the middle), Wilkins and Sieler will use “gap-stacking” technique—working together to clog the A-gaps (between center and guards) and force Jacobs to run outside, where Van Ginkel and Kamara are waiting to make the tackle. The interior line has also practiced “spill” drills, where they push Raiders offensive linemen to the side to force Jacobs into the arms of the linebackers. “Jacobs is a tough runner, but he can’t run through us if we’re in the right gaps,” Wilkins said. By shutting down the Raiders’ red-zone run game, the Miami Dolphins’ interior defensive line can force O’Connell to throw into tight coverage, increasing the chances of an interception or incomplete pass. This not only prevents points but also gives the offense back the ball with a chance to extend the lead.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Leveraging Short-Field Offense and Defensive Stops to Dominate the Raiders concludes by stressing that the Miami Dolphins’ balance between short-field offense and defensive stops will be the ultimate key to victory. A great short-field offense won’t matter if the defense can’t stop the Raiders from scoring on their own red-zone trips. Similarly, a dominant red-zone defense won’t be enough if the offense can’t capitalize on short-field opportunities. The Miami Dolphins’ balance between short-field offense and defensive stops means every phase of the game works in harmony: special teams sets up a short field, the offense scores, the defense stops the Raiders’ red-zone attack, and the cycle repeats. This balance was missing in the Week 6 loss to the Chiefs— the Dolphins had short-field opportunities but failed to score, and their red-zone defense gave up two touchdowns. Now, they need to fix both to beat the Raiders. Head coach Mike McDaniel has focused on this balance in practice, running “two-phase drills” where the defense forces a three-and-out, the special teams pins the opponent deep, and the offense scores a short-field touchdown. “We’re not three separate units—we’re one team working toward the same goal,” McDaniel said. By maintaining this balance, the Dolphins can dominate the Raiders, bounce back from their loss, and keep their AFC East lead intact. For the Dolphins, Week 7 isn’t just about winning—it’s about proving they can win the small, critical moments that define great teams. When the final whistle blows, their success in short-field offense and defensive stops won’t just be stats—it will be the reason they walk off the field victorious.