Raiders need to start faster in 2026

HENDERSON, NEVADA - MAY 20: Head coach Klint Kubiak of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on during an OTA offseason workout at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Health Performance Center on May 20, 2026 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There's a million reasons why the Las Vegas Raiders were awful in 2025 and there are another million reasons why there is optimism for the future, beginning in 2026, for the franchise under new head coach Klint Kubiak.

One of the areas the Raiders need to improve upon this season is starting faster and not falling behind so quickly early.

According to a recent X post by NFL analyst Warren Sharp, the Raiders were minus-43 points after the first quarter in their combined 17 games. It was the fourth worst rate in the entire NFL. Kubiak's 2025 team, meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks, were plus-55 points after the first quarter last season, the best rate in the NFL and it was a big reason why they were the eventual Super Bowl champion.

lead after the 1st quarter in 2025 (all reg season games combined):

+55 - SEA
+54
+53
+52
+51
+50
+49
+48 - NE
+47
+46
+45
+44
+43
+42 - LAR
+41 - CHI
+40 - PHI
+39
+38
+37
+36 - IND
+35
+34
+33
+32
+31
+30
+29
+28
+27
+26 - SF
+25 - GB, JAX
+24
+23
+22 - HOU
+21
+20
+19
+18
+17...

- Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 11, 2026

Starting fast is on all three phases of the team and it is up to Kubiak to make sure the Raiders are better that it this season.

In other Raiders' news:

• Mail call: The Athletic has a Raiders' mailbag.
• A father's lessons:The Raiders' website has a post on the Gary and Klint Kubiak relationship.