Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak sat down for a one-on-one interview on Tuesday, two days after a 38-33 comeback win over the New York Jets, and the conversation quickly turned to Sunday’s game at the San Francisco 49ers, where he worked on Kyle Shanahan’s staff. Asked about 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, whom he coached in 2023, Kubiak was brief and complimentary. “Playmaker,” he said. “Yeah, his playmaking ability. If you don’t contain him in the pocket, he’s going to hurt you with his legs. He’s a tremendous thrower, anticipator.”
The Raiders are 4-4 and the 49ers are 6-1 coming off their bye week. Kickoff at Levi’s Stadium is Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, which is 11:25 p.m. in Cairo.
“A humility and a work ethic”
The interviewer noted that Purdy is the highest-rated quarterback in the NFL and asked whether Kubiak saw this coming when he worked with him. “Yes,” Kubiak said. “He’s a very well-coached man. He’s got really great support around him, and he’s got a humility to him and a work ethic that you have to have to be a great player.”
On running back Christian McCaffrey, who has eight rushing touchdowns, he said: “He’s been one of the best backs in the NFL for a long time. He does a great job in all facets of the game, doesn’t come off the field.” On tight end George Kittle, who leads the 49ers in nearly every receiving category, Kubiak said the key is what he does as a blocker. “You have to honor run and pass with him when he’s in the game. You’re not just keying on one facet. Great tight ends are versatile that way. They can block and they can catch.”
The interviewer said San Francisco has scored 18 touchdowns on 21 trips to the red zone. “That stat speaks for itself,” Kubiak said. “Great offenses score in the red zone. That’s something we’re improving on ourselves, but that’s what they’ve done all year. If you want to win the game, you’ve got to get them to kick field goals.”
On going back to face the staff he worked on, including Shanahan, Kubiak said he is grateful for his time there but wants the focus on the field. “When we go play the game on Sunday, it’s a players’ game. We’re getting the players prepared to play. I know that’s part of the narrative, but Sunday’s for the players.”
Laube’s kickoff return and the second-half turnaround
The interview opened with Dylan Laube’s 95-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Jets. The host said it was the first one in the NFL this season and the first for the franchise in 15 years. “I didn’t know that, 15 years. That’s pretty special,” Kubiak said. “Credit to Dylan and the whole group, some really key blocks on that play. Dylan practices really hard, and he was rewarded for that.”
Asked what he told the team at halftime, when the Raiders trailed 23-14, Kubiak said improving after the break had been on his mind. “The third quarter improvement was something that’s been heavily on our mind, and we did a good job of coming out and scoring points on that first drive. That was really important. You’ve got to be able to produce in the second half, and that’s an area of growth we’ve got to continue to make.”
On Kirk Cousins’ four touchdowns, he spread the credit. “I want to give him credit for sure, but give credit to his teammates,” Kubiak said, listing protection, the run game, tight ends blocking, special teams and a defense that got stops in the second half. “It’s a team win, and the team is always going to perform better when the quarterback’s playing at a high level.” He said receiver Jalen Nailor has been improving throughout practice, and that the more positions the offense can get production from, the “harder to defend as an offense” it becomes.
Washington, Jeanty and the run defense
Rookie Mike Washington Jr. carried 25 times for 83 yards, and Kubiak said the workload was earned. “Mike has made some real improvements in his practice habits, and him becoming a better professional as the years have gone on, he’s earned opportunities,” he said. “He had the hot hand and he was rolling.” Of Ashton Jeanty, who had two carries but made big plays in the passing game, he said: “I can’t say enough good things about how Ashton handled that and how well he played for us to win that game. He’s a pro. He was a team captain in that game for a reason, so we’re going to continue to lean on him.”
The Jets ran for 166 yards at 6.1 a carry, and Kubiak did not dodge it. Asked whether the problem can be fixed, he said, “Yeah, I do. We have to. We had a hot start, we’ve hit a lull, and we have the coaches, we have the players to get it done.” He added: “I’m sure plenty of people want to tell us that we had a rough day against the run, and we did. But we found a way to win the game. The defense stepped up big in the second half. We got a turnover and got them to two punts, and that’s a resilient group. We’ve got stuff to fix, but we’ve got guys that want to win and care and will fight and claw to do whatever it takes.”
He called Jeremy Chinn’s game-ending interception in the end zone “a special play,” and “a special toe tap.” He also tied the win to the red zone, where the Raiders went 4 for 4. “You look back to games that we have not won, and you lose a game by a possession and it goes back to the red zone,” he said, adding that the goal now is to keep “scoring on first down, scoring on second down.”
The fans, and the trip to Santa Clara
Kubiak said the traveling Raiders fans at MetLife Stadium gave his team a boost, comparing it to the closing stretch against the Chargers. “It’s just the energy that we needed,” he said. “When you got in the fourth quarter and you looked around the stands, you could just feel the silver and black. It’s a special feeling.” With Sunday’s game being his first in the Bay Area as the Raiders’ head coach, he said he expects the same. “We’re counting on them. We thrived off of their energy in the last game. I’m really excited to see how our fans show up, and we’re always grateful for their support.”
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