The Seattle Seahawks may have lost a great offensive coordinator, but it sure looks like the Las Vegas Raiders got a great head coach. Klint Kubiak is showing that quick turnarounds can happen in the NFL. The 12s should be thrilled for Kid Kubiak.
Come on, look at him; he looks like he's 12, with a five o'clock shadow stippled in for Halloween. Of course, he thinks like he's been in the NFL for his entire life. Which is literally true, so that might explain some of his success. But there' is zero doubt he's one of the top offensive minds in the game.
We're only two weeks into the season, but you have to admit the Raiders look like a very different team so far. No shade on our beloved Pete Carroll, but this is not the same team that went 3-14 last year. Literally, with just 29 holdovers from the 2025 53-man roster. Notably, Geno Smith was replaced by Kirk Cousins, and Josh Jacobs by Ashton Jeanty. But Kubiak himself was the biggest shakeup.
Former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak changed the Raiders culture
Much like his former boss, Kubiak holds every individual accountable. As Mike Macdonald does with the Seahawks, the players are held accountable for how they contribute to the team's success. In Seattle, it's all about the team's success. They're learning that too in Las Vegas.
Every time a Seahawk makes a big play, the sideline erupts. We see it in Jalen Milroe's ecstatic reaction to another Drew Lock touchdown pass. He's supposed to be his competition for the backup role, yet Milroe acts as if he just saw his big brother score. Okay, the best example was Ernest Jones preemptively lighting up anyone who dared question his quarterback - no notes, as the kids say.
Do the 12s miss Kubiak? Two weeks in, and Brian Fleury's offense ranks 17th. Well, the Seahawks ranked third in scoring last year, so you can answer that for yourself. Now, that comes with a huge caveat. Sam Darnold was taken off the board on the fifth play of Week 1, and Drew Lock came in with zero reps with the first unit. Once he got into the groove, he's been phenomenal.
So yeah, Seattle's offense ranks 17th after two weeks, but there's no reason to worry. Their 31 points against the Cardinals were tied for fifth-highest in Week 2. On a side note, the Chiefs needed OT to score 33, so basically Fleury's offense was fourth in the league. Again, that's with Sam Darnold on the shelf. I have no concerns about the Seattle offense. Still, many 12s were worried when Kubiak left.
Baltimore Ravens fans - shouldn't they be called the Poes, or the Nevermores - had the same sick feeling in their gut when Mike Macdonald left for his big opportunity in Seattle. Hopefully, the 12s don't share the Baltimore fans' experience of seeing their team fall apart after Macdonald left. Defensive rank with Coach Mike: 3rd, then 1st. After Mike: 9th, 18th, and the head coach was fired.
That's not happening in Seattle. Brian Fleury is already coming up to speed, and I expect the team to be in the top five offensively by midseason. Are there still some kinks to work out on offense? Certainly. But you may remember that in Kubiak's first game as OC, Seattle scored just - wait for it - 13 points. And then scored - you guessed it - 31 in Week 2. 44 against the Commanders? Why not?
As for Kubiak and the job he's doing in Las Vegas, it's kind of amazing. No Mendoza, no problem. Just as the Chiefs did with Mahomes, the Raiders are giving their prized draft choice time to acclimate to the speed of the pro game. A lot of desperate first-year coaches would throw him into the fire. Yes, I know Russell Wilson started immediately, but Mendoza shows no signs of being DangeRuss.
Back to Klint Kubiak and the greatness of the Raiders. Hearing that phrase in the sonorous roll of John Facenda's voice, I still get chills. And I used to hate the Raiders. But since Coach Pete took the gig, I mellowed. And now with Klint Kubiak in charge, I can even root for them. Well, kinda. As dutiful 12s, you should too. Or at least celebrate his success.
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