Kubiak Sparks Raiders Offense to Unbeaten Start

The Kubiak Effect

The Las Vegas Raiders are enjoying a perfect start to the season with three wins from their first three games. This is their first such start since 2021, which was also the last time the team made the postseason. This quick turnaround is largely thanks to new head coach Klint Kubiak. He has completely transformed an offense that was one of the worst in the league last year.

Under former coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the Raiders averaged just 14.2 points per game. This season, that number has jumped to 29.3 points per game, which is tied for seventh in the NFL. Tight end Ian Thomas says that Kubiak is aggressive but knows when to pull back, and he will take chances when he needs to.

Overcoming Key Injuries

What makes this start even more impressive is that the Raiders did it with an inconsistent rushing attack and without their best playmaker, Brock Bowers, for the first two weeks. Bowers missed the games after undergoing a meniscus trim procedure.

Despite his absence, the Raiders still beat the Miami Dolphins and the Los Angeles Chargers by double figures. Against Miami, running back Ashton Jeanty rushed for 102 yards. Against the Chargers, quarterback Kirk Cousins made explosive plays, including two passes of over 40 yards, while Tre Tucker had 119 receiving yards.

Cousins has been excellent, throwing nine touchdown passes so far, which is tied for the league lead. He is also the first quarterback in NFL history aged 38 or older to throw three touchdown passes in each of his first three games of a season.

With Bowers back in Week 3, the Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 35-27. This ended a franchise record run of 39 games without scoring 30 points. Bowers caught 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, earning the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.