Raiders Playing Disciplined Football Under Klint Kubiak

Only one team in the NFL has racked up fewer than 100 penalty yards this season. The Raiders are the most disciplined team in the league. 

Las Vegas has been flagged 17 times for just 90 yards through three games. The 17 flags are tied for fifth fewest, but the 90 yards are the lowest mark in the NFL. 

With a first-year head coach in Klint Kubiak, the Raiders have not shown any signs of reckless play. 

The Breakdown

The Raiders have not been called for a personal foul this season. They have successfully avoided penalties like roughing the passer or unnecessary roughness. So Las Vegas is not giving away huge chunks of yardage when they do get flagged. 

Las Vegas has not had either side of the ball hamper the team. Both the offense and the defense have been called for seven penalties, while special teams has added three flags. 

Only two players have been flagged more than once. Center Tyler Linderbaum has picked up two presnap penalties, getting called for a false start and offside, when he lined up past the ball on a sneak play. Rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses has been flagged twice on defense, once for pass interference and once for illegal use of hands. 

The Raiders’ biggest problem might be that they have been called for too many men on the field twice while on defense. One came on a fourth down in the fourth quarter of the win over the Chargers. It was out of a timeout, and had Omarion Hampton not fumbled on the very next snap that penalty could have cost the Raiders a game. 

Raiders’ Opponents 

Meanwhile, Las Vegas has benefitted from their opponents’ lack of discipline. The Dolphins, Chargers and Saints have racked up 24 penalties for 142 yards in their meeting with the Raiders.

All three opponents have committed eight penalties against the Raiders. The Dolphins hit the high mark for yardage, surrendering 61 yards to flags in Week 1. 

The Raiders have won the penalty battle in each game this season. If Las Vegas is going to keep winning, they’ll need advantages in every facet possible. So far Kubiak has Las Vegas gaining an edge simply by playing within the rules.