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In a Week 2 matchup between two AFC contenders, the Oakland Raiders travel to Pro Player Stadium to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday (CBS, 1 p.m. ET). ESPN analysts Ron Jaworski and Sean Salisbury break down the game plans of each team in ESPN.com's Game of the Week.
| JAWORSKI VS. SALISBURY |
 | | Jaworski on the Raiders |  |
The Oakland Raiders are a terrific football team. I spoke to Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil, who was very impressed with their overall talent in Week 1. Vermeil said the Raiders didn't appear to have a weakness. Looking at their game against the Chiefs on tape, he is right. The Raiders have talent and depth at every position and a lot of playmakers. The Raiders are well-balanced and will be one of the league's elite teams once again this season. Last season they were only one tackle away from being in the Super Bowl. They made a wise move drafting safety Derrick Gibson to shore up their secondary. They are a Super Bowl-caliber team.
Five keys for the Raiders:
1. Balancing act. The Dolphins have a dominant defense, one that will put pressure on the Raiders' offense. But the Raiders feature a balanced attack. They were the No. 1 rushing team a year ago, and should be near the top again. With Charlie Garner's explosiveness and Tyrone Wheatley's power, the Raiders have a thunder and lightning combination in the backfield. In the passing game, Rich Gannon beats teams in the short and intermediate areas. The addition of Jerry Rice gives them a savvy receiver. He and Tim Brown understand what the coverage is trying to take away. They used tight end Roland Williams nicely in Week 1. This outstanding, multi-dimensional group just needs to maintain its balance in order to succeed against Miami.
2. Gannon as the catalyst. Gannon is the ad-lib quarterback. He can make things happen and has a knack for getting the ball to the open receiver. He must continue to play how he has been playing. The Raiders must let him be the heartbeat on offense.
3. Be aggressive. On defense, the Raiders look more aggressive. They picked up their blitz tempo against the Chiefs and applied more pressure on the quarterback and at the line of scrimmage. The Raiders can bring pressure because they have outstanding cover corners in Eric Allen and Charles Woodson, who can play man-to-man. They allow the Raiders' defense to do more with the front seven.
4. Limit big plays. Against Tennessee, the Dolphins got four big plays out of the passing game. The Raiders can't give up the big plays, ones that gain over 25 yards. Miami had a fade route to Chris Chambers, two plays to Oronde Gadsden and a screen pass. The Dolphins want to control the football and the clock, but they will take their shots down the field. And when they take them, the Raiders must be ready.
5. Get their kicks. The game will probably come down to field goals, so Sebastian Janikowski must be efficient. He can't miss a kick inside 40 yards.
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 | | Salisbury on the Dolphins |  |
Going on the road to beat Tennessee was a huge victory for the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. People have underestimated the Dolphins, and I may be one of them. I love their championship-caliber defense. Offensively, though, they don't have many players I would consider to be superstars. They are just a bunch of blue-collar players who get the job done. The offense is the biggest question mark and the key to their season because the defense will make plays. Lamar Smith has proven he can be a workhorse at running back. Jay Fiedler is not a spectacular quarterback, but he makes good decisions. If the Dolphins can limit their mistakes on offense, they will be competitive in every game they play.
Five keys for the Dolphins:
1. Get physical. The Dolphins are not a big defensive team, but they need to beat the Raiders physically. They can't let the Raiders pound them. The Raiders are one of the league's best running teams and can play power football. If the Dolphins can beat the Raiders up front, they will set the tone on both sides of the ball. Without injured defensive tackle Tim Bowens, that will be hard. The Dolphins, from sideline to sideline, are as good as any defense in the league. But they will have trouble if the defensive tackles, Daryl Gardener and Jermaine Haley, are unable to protect Zach Thomas and allow him to make tackles.
2. More man-to-man. They have perhaps the best combination of cornerbacks in the league with Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison. They match up well with Tim Brown and Jerry Rice, who are very good at understanding where zones are. In addition, the Dolphins have solid safeties in Brock Marion and Brian Walker. I would play man-to-man and use seven or eight people in the box to help them physically against the Raiders' power running game.
3. Big plays on perimeter (wideouts). The Dolphins need big plays on the perimeter, at least of 20-25 yards because the Raiders' offense will get its share of big plays. Miami now has the speed outside with the additions of James McKnight and Chris Chambers. McKnight could be one of the league's surprises this year. Chambers is good, but he's young. Their speed has to be utilized properly. It's one thing to get open; but they still have to finish the play if Fiedler throws their way.
4. Disrupt his rhythm. In the West Coast offense, the quarterback has to get rid of the ball quickly. If the Dolphins let Gannon stay in rhythm the whole game, he is one of the league's best quarterbacks and will be difficult to beat. If their coverages can make Gannon hold the ball longer and force him into long-yardage situations, the Dolphins have a much better chance.
5. Stay low. If the score is held under three touchdowns, like 17-14 or 20-17, Miami has a good chance to win. When the score goes beyond three touchdowns, the Dolphins' defense won't be doing its typical job and the offense may be putting the team in a bind. Miami can't afford to play catch-up football. The Dolphins don't want the burden placed on their offense.
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