Klint Kubiak Must Improve Raiders' Offense in Fourth Quarter

Through two games the Raiders are flying. A 2-0 start has created the real possibility of making the playoffs in head coach Klint Kubiak’s first season. 

Despite the record, the Raiders offense has a major concern through two games. Production in the fourth quarter has been hard to come by. 

Las Vegas has only scored once on offense in the fourth quarter this season. That was a 16-yard drive that was set up by an Omarion Hampton fumble last week. When handed the ball in the red zone, the offense did capitalize with a touchdown. 

But the rest of the fourth quarter has been a nightmare. 

Raiders’ Fourth Quarter Stats

Excluding drives ending in kneel downs, the Raiders have had the ball eight different times in the fourth quarter. Those eight drives have produced 64 yards on 31 plays. 

Overall the Raiders are 31st in the NFL in offensive expected points added in the fourth quarter. Only the Chargers are worse. 

The biggest problem facing the Raiders in the fourth quarter is the disappearing run game. Ashton Jeanty has been handed the ball 15 times in the final frame this season. He has 15 rushing yards. One yard per carry is not going to cut it for the rest of the season.

Las Vegas used a top-10 pick on Jeanty a couple of drafts ago and then made Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid center in the NFL. There are still problems along the offensive line, but that sort of investment needs to pay out in the fourth quarter. 

Klint Kubiak’s Fault?

Interestingly, the Seahawks offense struggled in the fourth quarter last season with Kubiak calling plays. Seattle ranked 20th in offensive expected points added in the fourth quarter, while ranking 10th across the first three quarters. 

In 2024 when Kubiak was the offensive coordinator in New Orleans, the Saints ranked 30th in offensive expected points added in the fourth quarter, while popping up at 19th in the first three quarters. 

It may simply be noise, but Kubiak has had a different offense with completely different personnel the last few seasons and all have gotten worse in the fourth quarter. 

The defense has decided if the team wins. In 2024, the Saints fourth quarter defense was 21st in expected points added. New Orleans finished 5-12.

Last season the Seahawks went on to win the Super Bowl with a defense that ranked eighth in fourth quarter expected points added. So far this season, the Raiders defense is first in expected points added in the final 15 minutes. 

So far this trend has continued in Las Vegas, with the only fourth-quarter points coming right after a turnover gave the offense excellent field position.