Gruden, Raiders visit Miami seeking first win

The 0-2 Oakland Raiders traveling across the country to face the 2-0 Miami Dolphins on Sunday seems like a mismatch in favor of the undefeated team.

But Las Vegas has Miami favored by just three points, indicating that the Raiders -- led by new coach and former Super Bowl champion Jon Gruden -- are due, desperate and dangerous.

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr went 12-3 during his breakout 2016 season before slumping to 6-9 as a starter when he had accuracy issues last year. But he is coming off a brilliant performance in a 20-19 loss to the Denver Broncos, completing 29-of-32 passes for 288 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.

Broncos quarterback Case Keenum, who led his team to the game-winning field goal with six seconds left, seemed in awe of Carr.

"I never saw the ball hit the ground when he was out there," Keenum said. "That's unbelievable to play quarterback like that."

Meanwhile, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who entered this season having missed Miami's previous 19 games (playoffs included) due to a knee injury, is off to a great start from a team aspect. While his stats are not gaudy, Tannehill has Miami on the verge of its first 3-0 start since 2013.

Another player to watch on Sunday is Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper, a Miami native who will have a homecoming on Sunday. He has already made two Pro Bowls in his first three years in the NFL and had 10 catches for 116 yards against the Broncos.

The Raiders have lots of other essentials for a quality offense, including tight end Jared Cook, who started all 16 games last season while catching a career-high 54 passes. This year, he has been even better, making 13 grabs for 229 yards, the latter figure leading all NFL tight ends.

Jordy Nelson, who played 10 years with the Green Bay Packers and made the Pro Bowl in 2014, is new to the Raiders this year. The Raiders also added Martavis Bryant, and he and Nelson have combined for a modest nine catches and 83 yards so far.

Nelson is 33, and Raiders top running back Marshawn Lynch is 32, so there is some question about the tread left on their tires. Lynch has rushed for 106 yards and a 3.7 average.

Raiders running backs, including backup Doug Martin, may find few crevices against a Dolphins defense that is coming off an impressive road win last Sunday against the New York Jets.

Outside linebacker Kiki Alonso made 13 tackles in the Jets game, and Miami also boasts other standouts such as Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones and Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake.

Defensive end Robert Quinn is another standout, rookie first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick has been impressive, and safety T.J. McDonald and cornerback Xavien Howard had interceptions that helped turn the Jets game.

Dolphins coach Adam Gase is looking for more of the same against Oakland. But the coach is not allowing his players to get complacent with just two games played.

"No one cares what you're doing this early in the season," Gase said.

Gase, an offensive-minded coach, certainly cares about his 1-2 punch in running backs Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore. Passing-game options include wide receivers Kenny Stills, who is a threat on deep balls, and Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson, who are small, shifty receivers who are terrific in turning short throws into long gains.

Tannehill will be facing a Raiders defense that so far has lacked a pass rush, accumulating just two sacks in two games. The Raiders, of course, had a sensational pass rusher in Khalil Mack, but he was traded to the Chicago Bears after a contract holdout, leaving the Raiders in a bind.

One X-factor in the game could be the punters -- Matt Haack for Miami and Oakland's Johnny Townsend. Haack had five of his punts downed inside the 20 against the Jets, and Townsend, a fifth-round rookie, was considered one of the best directional punters in the draft.

But, no matter which stars emerge, the Dolphins, given their 2-0 start, are supremely confident.

"We can be (even) better," Wilson said. "We're happy to be 2-0, but we're not satisfied."