Miami Dolphins: Week 7 Mental Toughness and In-Game Adjustments to Beat the Raiders

For the Miami Dolphins, Week 7’s clash with the Las Vegas Raiders isn’t just a battle of talent or tactics—it’s a test of mental toughness and the ability to adapt when the game doesn’t go as planned. After their Week 6 loss to the Chiefs, where a late-game lull in focus cost them a chance to tie, the Dolphins know that staying locked in for 60 minutes and making quick in-game adjustments will be just as important as their pre-game plan. The Raiders, while 2-4, have a history of hanging around in games—they’ve been within one score in the fourth quarter of four of their six matchups this season—meaning the Dolphins can’t afford to let up, even if they build an early lead. Miami Dolphins: Week 7 Mental Toughness and In-Game Adjustments to Beat the Raiders breaks down how the Dolphins will foster that mental resilience, how coaches and players will communicate adjustments on the fly, and why these traits are essential to securing a win that keeps their AFC East lead intact. This game is about more than bouncing back—it’s about proving the Dolphins can handle the ups and downs of a tough NFL game, a skill that will define their playoff run.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 Mental Toughness and In-Game Adjustments to Beat the Raiders first focuses on building pre-game mental focus to avoid a slow start. In two of their four wins this season, the Dolphins started sluggishly—trailing the Patriots 10-7 at halftime and the Giants 7-3 early in the second quarter—before finding their rhythm. Against the Raiders, a slow start could be costly: Las Vegas has scored first in three of its six games, and it uses early momentum to rattle opponents. To prevent this, head coach Mike McDaniel has adjusted the team’s pre-game routine, adding 15 minutes of “mental visualization” drills where players imagine game scenarios—like a third-and-1 run or a red-zone pass—and rehearse their reactions. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has also led team meetings focused on “staying present,” emphasizing that dwelling on a bad play or getting overconfident after a good one will derail their effort. “Mental toughness starts before kickoff,” Tagovailoa said this week. “If we’re locked in from the moment we step on the field, we won’t let the Raiders set the tone.” The Dolphins have also reviewed film of the Raiders’ early-game tendencies—they often use trick plays (like a reverse pass) on their first three drives—to prepare mentally for unexpected moves. By building this pre-game focus, the Dolphins can avoid the slow starts that have made some of their wins harder than they needed to be, and take control of the game early.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 Mental Toughness and In-Game Adjustments to Beat the Raiders then turns to halftime adjustments, a critical part of adapting to the Raiders’ in-game strategy. Las Vegas head coach Josh McDaniels is known for making aggressive halftime tweaks—against the Bills in Week 4, he shifted from a run-heavy attack to a pass-focused game plan, leading the Raiders to a 14-point second half. For the Dolphins, halftime won’t be a time to relax; it will be a rapid-fire session of analyzing what’s working, what’s not, and how to counter the Raiders’ adjustments. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will bring condensed film clips to the locker room, highlighting key trends—like if the Raiders are overcommitting to stop the run or if Davante Adams is finding gaps in zone coverage—and outlining 2-3 quick adjustments. Players will also have a role: veterans like Tyreek Hill and Christian Wilkins will share on-field observations, like how Raiders cornerbacks are reacting to press coverage or where the Raiders’ defensive line is showing weaknesses. “Halftime adjustments aren’t just for coaches—we’re all seeing the game differently on the field,” Hill said. For example, if the Raiders start double-teaming Hill more in the first half, the Dolphins might adjust by moving Jaylen Waddle to the slot to create one-on-one matchups. By turning halftime into a productive, focused session, the Dolphins can stay one step ahead of the Raiders and prevent Las Vegas from gaining momentum in the second half.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 Mental Toughness and In-Game Adjustments to Beat the Raiders emphasizes how the Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff will lead real-time adjustments during drives. Unlike halftime, where there’s time for film review, in-game adjustments need to be fast, clear, and executed immediately—especially when the Raiders change their strategy mid-drive. McDaniel and his assistants will use a combination of sideline signals and quick huddles to relay changes: for example, if the Raiders start blitzing more on third down, Fangio will signal to the secondary to shift to a zone coverage that picks up the extra rusher. The Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff has also practiced “adjustment drills” in practice, where they simulate a sudden change in the opponent’s playcall (like switching from man to zone coverage) and have players react in under 10 seconds. Communication is key here—quarterback Tagovailoa will act as a “middleman” on offense, relaying Smith’s adjustments to the line and receivers, while linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel will do the same on defense for Fangio. “Real-time adjustments separate good teams from great ones,” McDaniel said. “Our staff has to be quick, and our players have to be ready to adapt—no questions asked.” By leading these fast, effective adjustments, the Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff can neutralize the Raiders’ mid-drive tweaks and keep the Dolphins in control of the game’s tempo.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 Mental Toughness and In-Game Adjustments to Beat the Raiders also highlights how the Miami Dolphins’ veteran players will anchor mental toughness during high-pressure moments. Every NFL game has tense stretches—like a fourth-and-1 in the red zone, a late-game interception, or a Raiders scoring drive that cuts the lead to three points—and it’s the veterans who set the tone for how the team responds. Hill, who has played in 12 playoff games, will focus on keeping the offense calm after a mistake, reminding teammates to “take it one play at a time” instead of dwelling on errors. On defense, Wilkins—who has been with the Dolphins for five seasons—will rally the line during long Raiders drives, using his voice and energy to keep players focused on stopping the next play. The Miami Dolphins’ veteran players have also shared stories from past games, like how they overcame a fourth-quarter deficit against the Bills in Week 3, to remind younger players that pressure moments are opportunities to shine. “Veterans don’t just play—we lead with our minds,” Wilkins said. “When the game gets tight, the younger guys look to us, so we have to stay strong mentally.” By anchoring this toughness, the Miami Dolphins’ veteran players can prevent the team from panicking during high-pressure stretches, ensuring the Dolphins stay on course to win.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 Mental Toughness and In-Game Adjustments to Beat the Raiders concludes by stressing that the Miami Dolphins’ post-mistake resilience will be the final piece of the puzzle. No team plays a perfect game—even the Chiefs make errors—and how the Dolphins respond to their own mistakes will determine the outcome. In Week 6, a Tagovailoa interception in the fourth quarter led to a Chiefs touchdown and a two-score lead; the Dolphins never recovered, showing a lapse in post-mistake focus. This week, the Dolphins have practiced “reset drills,” where they simulate a turnover or a missed tackle and then run a successful play immediately after, to build the habit of moving on. The Miami Dolphins’ post-mistake resilience also means not blaming teammates—instead, focusing on how to fix the issue together. For example, if the offensive line allows a sack, the linemen will huddle quickly to adjust their blocking scheme, not point fingers. “Mistakes happen—what matters is how you bounce back,” McDaniel said. If the Dolphins can recover quickly from errors—whether it’s a dropped pass, a missed tackle, or a bad call—they’ll deny the Raiders the momentum that comes from their opponents’ struggles. This resilience isn’t just about winning Week 7; it’s about building a mindset that will carry the Dolphins through tough playoff games, where one mistake can be the difference between victory and defeat. For the Dolphins, Week 7 is a chance to prove they’re mentally tough enough to be contenders—not just on paper, but when the game is on the line.