The Raiders have figured out how to start games well, stay competitive, and create excitement towards the end. However, they might need a reminder that there’s still football to play right after halftime.
This is where Klint Kubiak, the Raiders’ head coach, comes into play. He sets the tone for the team, shapes the offensive strategy, prioritizes practice sessions, and decides what the players take with them from the locker room to the field. If the Raiders continue to struggle after halftime, it’s his job to address that issue.
And the statistics certainly highlight a problem. The Raiders have been outscored by 26 points in the third quarter, which is the worst differential in the entire NFL. This includes an alarming 24-3 scoreline during their current three-game losing streak as they prepare for their upcoming match against the Rams.
Yet, in other quarters, they do show positive results—especially in the fourth, where they have a plus-20 margin.
They can find their rhythm at the start, hold their own before halftime, and muster enough energy for a strong finish. However, it seems that something gets lost between the halftime talk and when they return to the field.
Is it energy? Execution? Perhaps it’s about anticipating changes from their opponents? Whatever it is, solving this hiccup should be Kubiak’s main focus this week. With the struggling Rams visiting, the Raiders cannot afford to let another winnable game slip by.
“I’m really upset with how we’re starting the third quarter,” Kubiak expressed. “Going three and out is disappointing.”
It’s easy to understand his frustration. The key now is to turn these feelings into better performance on the field.
Kubiak deserves some credit for identifying the problem and urging his coaching staff to spark more energy after halftime. He knows that preparation involves more than just drawing up strategies.
Still, the attitude he instills must be reflected in the team’s execution. Urgency needs to translate into blocking schemes, route precision, and decision-making. A motivating halftime speech only matters if the players can act on it once the game resumes.
The Raiders have found various ways to squander chances. For instance, after showing promise against the Chiefs, gaining 41 yards on their opening drive of the second half, they faltered on the next series with a series of missed opportunities that ended without any points.
In another game against New England, their defense didn’t respond well, allowing the Patriots to score quickly after halftime, further widening the gap. On the offensive side, their attempt to regroup resulted in just a few yards and a quick turnover.
And against Buffalo, they couldn’t gain any momentum either, opening the second half with three straight incompletions, failing to build on the passing success they had before the break.
They’ve faced different challenges but ultimately experienced the same disappointment after halftime. Simplifying everything down to just lacking energy overlooks the bigger issue. Kubiak needs to inspire urgency in his players while also providing a reliable plan for execution.
The running game hasn’t offered much stability either, managing barely three yards per attempt across six games. When running plays falter, it puts extra pressure on the passing game—a missed completion can be detrimental.
Kubiak must find strategies to break this cycle, whether by adjusting formations, sequencing plays effectively, or quickly targeting players who can gain positive yardage.
Moreover, he’s attempting to recreate the halftime focus during practice sessions. “We’ll emphasize it in our practice routine, simulate stoppages to prepare,” remarked quarterback Kirk Cousins. “It’s crucial that we improve.”
Interestingly, they’ve already tried some of these adjustments before. While revisiting past efforts is not without merit, it indicates that merely scheduling these practices is just a first step. Kubiak must also dissect why these improvements haven’t transferred into actual games.
Cousins recognizes the opportunity at hand. “We haven’t performed well for the most part. We need to significantly ramp up our game coming out of halftime,” he acknowledged.
The Raiders’ strong fourth-quarter performances suggest there’s potential to harness. The challenge lies in bringing that same urgency to the start of the second half, minus any sense of desperation.
Ultimately, the players must share in this responsibility—receivers need to make catches, blockers should maintain their assignments, and the defense has to prevent a single mistake from leading to a chain reaction of errors.
But at the end of the day, Kubiak is responsible for leading them. He can’t execute every play, yet he can set expectations, demand preparation, and make decisions that put his team in a position to win.
When they face the Rams, it’s vital that these responsibilities yield tangible outcomes. The third quarter deserves just as much attention as the fourth. Kubiak has to set that mark, and his team needs to carry it onto the field.
