If you're a Raiders fan, you already have plenty of reasons to be excited about the 2026 season. But here's one more that might get your heart pumping: new head coach Klint Kubiak's offense is built to dominate from the very first snap.
Kubiak, widely regarded as an offensive mastermind, is bringing his proven system to a franchise that's been starving for creative play-calling. And the numbers from his most recent stop tell a compelling story about what's coming to Las Vegas.
According to an NFL researcher's post on X, the 2025 season revealed a staggering contrast between Kubiak's offense and the Raiders' struggles. The Seattle Seahawks, where Kubiak served as offensive coordinator before their Super Bowl triumph, averaged a league-best 6.4 yards per play on first down. That's elite efficiency, setting the tone for every drive.
Meanwhile, the Raiders languished near the bottom, tied for the third-worst mark at just 4.7 yards per play on first down. That's nearly a two-yard gap—a canyon in NFL terms.
Here's how the full first-down yardage leaderboard shook out in 2025:
Top 6:
1. Ravens – 6.4
2. Rams – 6.4
3. Seahawks – 6.4
4. Patriots – 6.3
5. Lions – 6.2
6. Falcons – 6.0
Bottom 6:
27. Texans – 4.8
28. Cardinals – 4.8
29. Raiders – 4.7
30. Titans – 4.7
31. Chargers – 4.5
32. Browns – 4.4
Think about what that means. If Kubiak can lift the Raiders' first-down efficiency by just one yard per play in 2026, they'd jump from the basement to the middle of the pack—and that kind of improvement could be the difference between stalled drives and sustained scoring.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, this shift has ripple effects. How does Ashton Jeanty fit into the running back rankings with a more efficient offense? And for those watching roster battles, SB Nation has highlighted the undrafted free agents with real shots at making 53-man rosters.
But the headline here is clear: Kubiak's track record of fast starts on first down could be the spark the Raiders have been missing. Get ready for a more dynamic, downhill offense in 2026.