Klint Kubiak knows his Raiders must course correct in the red zone

Klint Kubiak is clearly a big baller, shot caller, of a play caller.

That was the reputation the 39-year-old built as an offensive coordinator and a big reason why the Las Vegas Raiders were deliberate and patient in hiring the hot shot as the new head coach this offseason. And through six games in the 2026 campaign with the rookie lead man helming the Silver & Black, Kubiak has nearly doubled the offensive output with this rendition of the Raiders compared to six games in 2025.

With 162 total points and averaging 27 points per game, Kubiak’s offense is the sixth-ranked scoring group amongst the 32 NFL teams and is a torrential downpour compared to the output Las Vegas had last season with an anemic 86 total points and an average of 14.3 points per contest.

The Silver & Black’s high mark at 3-3 overall was in a 35-27 victory at the New Orleans Saints with the low point in a 45-17 defeat at the New England Patriots, in terms of point production. In comparison, the Raiders were 2-4 last season with twin 24 outputs in Week 3 and 4 (both losses) as high points and a meager six points the low point in Week 5.

Hence Kubiak’s rightful disappointment after losses this season. He’s taking ownership of the shortfalls in both post game press conferences and media sessions throughout the week as his team lost three-straight games. Particularly on offense as he makes the obvious crystal clear: Kubiak the one with the play sheet and the one delivering calls to trusty veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.

“Yeah, that’s the expectation. We have really talented players and that was the expectation to bounce back,” Kubiak said after the 33-30 loss to the Buffalo Bills this past Sunday. “That’s the type of football that we need to play, but we got to do it for four quarters. We’ve got to get the ball in the red zone. We’re 2-for-5 in the red zone, and that’s unacceptable. And that starts with me.”

Ah, red zone. It’s an unquestioned area of opportunity for a bright mind like Kubiak.

The skinny: Out of 23 visits to area between the opponent’s 20-yard line and goal line, the Raiders offense totals 12 red zone touchdowns. That’s 11 trips without an end zone visits giving Kubiak an overall 52.2 red zone percentage — which ranks 21st.

Now imagine how much more potent Las Vegas offense would be if even one of those 11 trips was a touchdown instead? Perhaps the tale of the Week 6 loss would be different if Kubiak’s offense found the end zone just one more time instead of going 2-for-5?

(For reference: The unbeaten San Francisco 49ers own the best red zone percentage at 85 percent (17 touchdowns on 20 visits), with the 2-4 Saints second at 84.2 percent (16 touchdowns on 19 visits). The bottom dwellers are the 2-4 New York Jets (dead last at 37.5 percent six touchdowns on 16 attempts) and the 4-2 Cleveland Browns (46.2 percent, six touchdowns on 13 attempts.)

Kubiak expanded on the myriad of issues that continue to haunt his Raiders — particular in the loss to the Billls — in the money zone this past Monday.

“Yes, well, key fourth and one, we have a penalty. We lost. We dropped the ball in the red zone in two-minute, right before half, had an opportunity to go score before half. Didn’t get it done. Penalties, lack of execution. It’s not one thing,” Kubiak explained. “But I think mainly when you want to be a good red zone team, you got to run the ball well in the red zone. We didn’t do that.”

The lack of coaching and player execution is hurting Las Vegas when it’s within striking distance of the end zone and Cousins echoed Kubiak’s statements.

“You had the first and goal from the two that we were unable to go forward, and then we had the incompletion. I’ll go back and watch the tape, but I felt like whether it’s staying with Brock (Bowers) there, even though he was doubled and had tough leverage, you stay with him, or you put a better ball on Cody (White),” Cousins said immediately after the loss to Buffalo. “Those are the things we’ll be talking about tomorrow, and then honestly the other several possessions run together right now. But anytime you leave points on the board in the red zone, it’s hard.”

Kubiak isn’t alone in the red zone plight. His chosen defensive coordinator, fellow rookie Rob Leonard, is also wallowing in impotence in the same area — and then some.

In total, opponents visited the Raiders red zone 23 times so far and on 17 of those occasions got into the end zone. That 73.9 conversion rate gives Leonard’s group the 26th ranking in that regard. And this past Sunday, the Bills finished 3-for-5 in the money zone.

(For reference: The 1-4-1 Washington Commanders allow a league-high 81.8 conversion rate in the red zone (18 touchdowns on 22 attempts) with the 3-2 Detroit Lions right behind at 81 percent (17 TDs on 21 visits). The stingiest teams are the 5-0 Minnesota Vikings (25 percent, just three touchdowns on 12 visits) and the 5-0 Kansas City Chiefs (33.3 percent, four touchdowns on 12 attempts).)

Overall, Leonard’s defense allowed 162 total points in six games (27 points per game average) giving Las Vegas the 26th-ranked group in points allowed. In comparison, the 2025 Raiders defense allowed 149 total points (24.8 points per game average) through a similar point in time last year — hence the “and them some” portion above. This 2026 Raiders team is scoring and giving up more points than the previous year’s squad.

“We got to the quarterback twice, got two sacks. You know, number 17 (Josh Allen) is one of the best in the free world at extending plays,” Kubiak said of the defense’s performance against Buffalo last Sunday. “I think he only had five yards rushing, but he definitely made plays with his legs moving and throwing off schedule. But overall, if you’re going to win the game, it’s about limiting points, and we have to limit points in the red zone.”

One of the red zone conversions the Bills had in Week 6 included a dazzling and disconcerting (depending on if you root for Buffalo or Las Vegas) play where quarterback Josh Allen was able to evade defenders and flip the ball to wide open wide receiver Keon Coleman to lift Buffalo’s lead to 23-13 in the third quarter:

Talk as they might, the time for action from Kubiak, Leonard, and the rest of the Raiders coaching staff and players was a while ago. But there’s plenty of opportunities in the remaining 11 games of the 2026 slate for the team to course correct.

On offense, Las Vegas needs to resuscitate a flat-lined ground game — especially within striking distance of the end zone. A sharper quarterback-pass catcher timing would also do wonders as windows shrink massively in the area inside the 20-yard line. All of which can help the Raiders finish drives with six points instead of three points off the foot of accurate veteran kicker Matt Gay (who is 3-for-3 from 20 to 29 yards out and 4-for-4 30 to 49 yards out).

Defensively, becoming more physical and dominant inside the 20 is a must-do. Also coverage in the red zone as miscommunication and blown assignments have left pass catchers and ball carriers open to punch it in. Defensive linemen and edge rushers alike need to anchor and pressure while linebackers and defensive backs flow and close passing windows more rapidly than what’s been seen.

Acknowledging the red zone issue is a sound first step. Executing the improvement plan is another.

But Kubiak and Co. have no other choice but to execute.