Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Adapting to Raiders’ In-Game Shifts to Maintain Control

In the NFL, even the most thorough pre-game plan can be upended by an opponent’s in-game adjustments—and for the Miami Dolphins, Week 7’s matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders will be no exception. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels is known for tweaking his strategy mid-game: if the initial plan isn’t working, he’ll shift from a run-heavy attack to a pass-focused scheme, or adjust coverage to shut down the Dolphins’ top playmakers. For the Dolphins, winning this game won’t just be about executing their pre-game plan—it will be about recognizing these shifts quickly, adapting on the fly, and preventing the Raiders from gaining momentum. Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Adapting to Raiders’ In-Game Shifts to Maintain Control breaks down how the Dolphins will prepare for common Raiders adjustments, who will lead these in-game changes, and why this adaptability will keep them in control from kickoff to final whistle. For a team aiming to bounce back from a Week 6 loss, being able to pivot when the game changes is the difference between a win and another disappointment.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Adapting to Raiders’ In-Game Shifts to Maintain Control first focuses on preparing for the Raiders’ likely offensive adjustments. Film study shows that when the Raiders trail by 7+ points in the second half, they increase their passing rate by 35%—abandoning the run to rely on Aidan O’Connell and Davante Adams. The Dolphins have built “adjustment drills” into practice to counter this: if the defense notices the Raiders passing on 80% of plays (a sign of the shift), defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will signal a switch to “nickel” defense (five defensive backs) to add extra coverage against Adams. Linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Mohamed Kamara will also shift from run-stopping to pass-rushing roles, using quicker blitzes to pressure O’Connell before he can find Adams. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has also been part of these drills, as the offense needs to respond by controlling the clock—if the Raiders pass more, the Dolphins will lean on Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane to extend drives and keep Las Vegas’ offense off the field. “The Raiders don’t hide their adjustments—we just need to spot them fast,” Fangio said. By preparing for this common offensive shift, the Dolphins can avoid the late-game collapses that hurt them against the Chiefs and keep the Raiders from mounting a comeback.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Adapting to Raiders’ In-Game Shifts to Maintain Control then turns to countering the Raiders’ defensive adjustments, particularly their likely response to the Dolphins’ run game. If Mostert and Achane find early success on the ground, the Raiders will almost certainly shift to a “stacked box” (six+ defenders near the line of scrimmage) to stop the run. The Dolphins’ offense has practiced two key adaptations to this shift: first, using play-action passes to draw stacked defenders toward the line, then hitting Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle on deep routes behind the coverage. For example, if the Raiders stack the box on first down, Tagovailoa will fake a handoff to Mostert, then throw a deep post to Hill—who has proven he can beat single coverage (he’s caught 4 deep touchdowns this season). Second, the Dolphins will use “spread formations” to force the Raiders to pull defenders out of the box: lining up four wide receivers will force the Raiders to cover them with defensive backs, reducing the number of players available to stop the run. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith has run these scenarios in practice repeatedly, so the offense can adjust without huddling. “Stacked boxes are a compliment—but we know how to turn that compliment into points,” Smith said. By adapting quickly to the Raiders’ run-stopping shift, the Dolphins can keep their offense balanced and avoid getting one-dimensional.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Adapting to Raiders’ In-Game Shifts to Maintain Control 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 shifts require split-second decisions—and the Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff has a clear system to make this happen. Fangio and Smith will stay in constant communication via headsets, sharing observations (like “Raiders are blitzing 40% of third downs now” or “They’re doubling Hill on every snap”). They’ll then send adjustments to the field using a combination of hand signals and sideline markers: for example, a red flag from Fangio tells the defense to switch to zone coverage, while a blue marker from Smith tells the offense to run a screen pass. The staff also has “adjustment specialists” on the sideline—veteran assistants who focus solely on spotting Raiders shifts and relaying them to the coaches. “We don’t have time to overthink—we need to decide and act,” head coach Mike McDaniel said. The Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff has also prepared “adjustment playbooks” for key scenarios, so players know exactly what to do when a shift happens. By leading these fast, clear adjustments, the staff can keep the Dolphins one step ahead of the Raiders and prevent Las Vegas from gaining momentum.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Adapting to Raiders’ In-Game Shifts to Maintain Control also highlights how the Miami Dolphins’ veteran players will act as “on-field adjusters” to spot and respond to Raiders shifts. Veterans like Hill, Christian Wilkins, and Xavien Howard have played in enough games to recognize when the Raiders are changing their strategy—whether it’s a subtle shift in coverage or a new pass-rush tactic. The Miami Dolphins’ veteran players will communicate these shifts to teammates mid-play: Howard might yell “Cover 2 now!” to the secondary if he sees the Raiders adjust coverage, while Wilkins will signal “Blitz coming!” to the defensive line if he notices extra Raiders players lining up to rush. Hill, meanwhile, will adjust his routes if the Raiders start doubling him—he’ll run a shorter curl route instead of a deep post, giving Tagovailoa a quick target. These veterans have also practiced “adjustment huddles”—quick, 10-second meetings between plays to confirm the shift and decide on a response. “Coaches can see from the sideline, but we see it on the field—we’re the eyes and ears out there,” Hill said. By acting as on-field adjusters, the Miami Dolphins’ veteran players can speed up the adaptation process, ensuring the team responds to Raiders shifts before they lead to points.

Miami Dolphins: Week 7 – Adapting to Raiders’ In-Game Shifts to Maintain Control concludes by stressing that the Miami Dolphins’ mental flexibility will be the final key to maintaining control. Even with great coaching and veteran leadership, adapting to shifts requires players to stay calm and avoid panicking when the game doesn’t go as planned. The Miami Dolphins’ mental flexibility means not getting stuck on a single play or strategy—if a run play isn’t working because the Raiders stacked the box, the offense needs to switch to passes without frustration. If the defense is struggling to stop Adams because the Raiders changed coverage, the secondary needs to adjust without letting it affect their confidence. The Dolphins have built this flexibility into practice by running “chaos drills”—simulating sudden shifts (like a last-minute Raiders formation change) and forcing players to adapt. “Mental flexibility is about staying present—focusing on the next play, not the one that just went wrong,” McDaniel said. By combining coaching leadership, veteran communication, and mental flexibility, the Dolphins can adapt to whatever the Raiders throw at them, maintain control of the game, and bounce back with a win. For the Dolphins, Week 7 isn’t just about beating the Raiders—it’s about proving they can handle the unexpected, a skill that will be essential in the playoffs. When the final whistle blows, their ability to adapt won’t just be a footnote—it will be the reason they walk off the field victorious.