Silver and Black Today

I’m not going to bury this: the Raiders defense has given up 143 points in four games and 170 in five. A month ago it was top 10 in points allowed and first in takeaways. Today I break down what changed after Week 3, why the Las Vegas Raiders can’t stop the run, what’s going wrong in the secondary and pass rush, and what Rob Leonard has to do before the Jets game.

Yesterday’s show was all Fernando Mendoza and the quarterback question. This one is about the other side of the ball.

CHAPTERS

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Is it time for the Raiders to start Fernando Mendoza? After four straight losses and a 3-4 record, Klint Kubiak says everything is on the table, including the No. 1 overall pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Host Scott Gulbransen lays out the four losses to the Chiefs, Patriots, Bills and Rams, then owns where he was wrong on the Mendoza timeline. He makes the case that Kirk Cousins has played well and this is not a Cousins problem, explains what Mendoza's mobility gives the offense what Cousins can't, and digs into how the Raiders' run game may be shaping Kubiak's decision.

He also lays out the case for waiting and the case for starting Mendoza now, and says where he lands. Then the Raider Nation Court of Public Opinion opens the phones. Callers weigh in on the offensive and defensive lines, Ashton Jeanty, Rob Leonard's defense, and whether Kubiak's run game has become too predictable.

In this episode:

0:00 Raiders 3-0 to 3-4: Is it time for Mendoza?

1:25 The four straight losses

4:29 My mea culpa: the clock is moving faster

6:11 Kirk Cousins deserves credit

8:38 What Mendoza brings that Cousins doesn't

12:08 Is the run game keeping Kubiak from starting Mendoza?

16:03 The case for waiting vs. starting him now

19:59 Where I land

21:15 Raider Nation Court calls open

22:29 Jacob in Fresno

27:04 Bandy in Minnesota

29:01 Ross in Florida

31:00 Raider Eddie in Denver

35:51 Wrap and what's next

Call the Raider Nation Court line: 702-900-8105 Email or send a video: [email protected] Follow on X: @SNBToday and @LVGully

Silver & Black Today is a Las Vegas Raiders podcast on the BLEAV Network. Subscribe, rate and review wherever you get your audio.

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In this episode:

00:00 Are the Raiders still for real at 3-3?

02:20 The case for the Raiders

04:35 The case against

05:49 The verdict

07:30 Rams preview

08:45 The Rams injury report

13:33 Jeanty vs. Washington

19:53 Trade deadline: do the Raiders need a receiver?

24:48 Bills spitting suspensions

26:29 Keys to a Raiders win

32:08 Your calls

40:21 Final call

Call the show: 702-900-8105. Leave a message by Tuesday or early Wednesday to be heard on Thursday's show.

Join Scott and Murf from Raiders Fan Radio for the Kalshi Silver and Black Today postgame show, live after Rams vs. Raiders on YouTube.

Silver and Black Today is a Bleav Network podcast covering the Las Vegas Raiders. Also heard Saturdays at 5 PM on 101.5 KDAWN in Las Vegas and free on the Odyssey app.

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Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders run game are under the microscope. Is the problem the 2025 first-round pick, the offensive line, Klint Kubiak’s zone scheme, or all three?

Host Scott Gulbransen is joined by Zain Dhanani (The Cutup on the Bleav Network, former ESPN/Milwaukee Bucks analytics) for an All-22 film breakdown of multiple clips from early 2026 action. Zain walks through yards before contact, designed-hole efficiency, zone vs. gap scheme fit for Jeanty, and specific struggles from Jackson Powers-Johnson, Tyler Linderbaum, DJ Glaze, and Kolton Miller.

We also cover:

This is the detailed, film-and-analytics look Raider Nation has been asking for. Watch the video for the clips or listen for the full breakdown.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & Introducing Zain Dhanan

Subscribe to Silver and Black Today wherever you get podcasts and on YouTube for more Raiders analysis three times a week. Also check out Zain’s show The Cutup on the Bleav Network.

Call the show: 702-900-8105!

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The Las Vegas Raiders fall 33-30 to the Buffalo Bills in a competitive but ultimately frustrating game at Allegiant Stadium. Kirk Cousins throws for 313 yards and connects with Tre Tucker on a late 44-yard touchdown, but the Raiders can’t finish the comeback.

Host Scott Gulbransen breaks down the full game in this Kalshi Silver and Black Today postgame show, covering:

• Overall takeaways and why the Raiders still lack the talent to compete consistently • Ashton Jeanty’s continued struggles in the run game vs. Mike Washington Jr.’s better efficiency • Defensive issues, scheme questions around Rob Leonard, and second-half starts • Clint Kubiak’s play-calling and the need for better adjustments • The ongoing Fernando Mendoza conversation • Honest live video calls from Raider Nation fans

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & final score

02:00 – Overall takeaways & talent level

05:30 – Running game (Jeanty vs. Washington)

08:15 – Defense, coaching & scheme notes

12:40 – Kirk Cousins performance

15:00 – Kalshi sponsor read

17:20 – Fan call: Misha

21:40 – Fan call: Raider Sky

27:10 – Fan call: Daniel

36:30 – Fan call: Tariq

46:20 – Fan call: CaptainRafucho

55:20 – Closing thoughts & looking ahead to the Rams

Subscribe to Silver and Black Today wherever you listen and leave a rating or review — it helps the show grow.

New voicemail number for Raider Nation Court of Public Opinion: (702) 900-8105

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Klint Kubiak shut down a report that the Raiders might rest Ashton Jeanty, and Scott spends most of this episode on what sits underneath that story. Jeanty is averaging 2.9 yards per carry, and the Raiders are last in the NFL in yards per carry as a team. Kubiak himself said the staff has been raising concerns about the line for weeks. Scott lays out the case for playing Jeanty and the case for sitting him, says where he lands, and goes through the offensive line one position at a time.

Then it’s on to Buffalo. The Bills beat the Rams 37-34 in overtime on Monday night behind Josh Allen, and now they travel to Las Vegas on a short week with injuries at right tackle, wide receiver, and defensive line. Scott covers where the Raiders can attack, whether Maxx Crosby’s snap count should change, the Raiders’ own injury report, and his score prediction.

The second half is your calls and videos, covering the offensive line, the best timing for Fernando Mendoza, the defense giving up 34 points a game, and whether this team has an identity yet.

Timestamps

Mentioned in this episode: Ashton Jeanty, Klint Kubiak, Fernando Mendoza, Kirk Cousins, Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, Tyler Linderbaum, Kolton Miller, Spencer Burford, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Caleb Rogers, Mike Washington Jr., Rob Leonard, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford.

Be part of the next show: Call 702-900-7869 or email video to [email protected]. Midweek calls keep your take fresh.

Live postgame show: Scott and Murf go live on YouTube after the Bills game, with live video drop-ins. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel NOW: https://www.youtube.com/@SIlverBlackToday

Silver & Black Today airs Saturdays at 5 PM on KDAWN 101.5 FM in Las Vegas and is part of the BLEAV Network. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Should Fernando Mendoza start for the Raiders this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills? Scott’s answer is closer, but not yet, and he names the record that would change it.

After the Raiders’ 45-17 loss in New England, Scott goes through Mendoza’s first eight NFL throws and why he wouldn’t read much into them against a Patriots defense playing prevent. He also makes the case that Kirk Cousins didn’t lose this game, looks at whether the offensive line had one bad day or a real problem, and pushes back on Klint Kubiak’s claim that the team abandoned the run. Then he lays out the stretch ahead: Bills, Rams, Jets, 49ers, Seahawks.

In this episode:

TIMESTAMPS

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The Raiders got run out of Foxborough, 45-17. On this Kalshi Silver and Black Today postgame show, Scott goes through what went wrong: a run game that dropped to 2.1 yards per carry, an offensive line that couldn't pass protect or move anybody, a defense that couldn't stop a Patriots receiving group missing its top two wideouts, and a coaching staff that got outplayed by Josh McDaniels. Murph is off this week, so it's Scott solo plus callers. Then the question everybody is asking: when does Fernando Mendoza take over for Kirk Cousins? Scott lays out why he didn't want Mendoza in early, why that wasn't the real problem, and when he thinks the switch comes. Buffalo is next at Allegiant Stadium, then the Rams.

Call 702-900-7869 to be part of the podcast during the week. The Silver and Black Today radio show airs Saturdays at 5 PM on 101.5 KDAWN in Las Vegas, and streams on the Audacy app.

Chapters:

00:00 Kalshi Postgame Show Kickoff 01:24 Raiders Lose 45-17 at New England 02:44 Drake Maye Torches the Raiders Defense 05:00 Run Game Collapses: 2.1 Yards Per Carry 06:39 Missed Field Goal and the 10-Point Swing 07:37 Offensive Line Problems and Ashton Jeanty 09:46 Klint Kubiak's Game Plan and the Tre Tucker Trick Plays 10:51 Fernando Mendoza Plays the Final Drive 13:51 Raiders Secondary Gets Picked Apart 18:31 Kalshi Pick: Ravens vs Falcons (Code MENDOZA) 20:45 Chat Reacts: Organizational Failure 21:49 Josh McDaniels Outcoaches Rob Leonard 24:09 Pastor Mike Behind Bars Calls In 29:34 Daniel on Maxx Crosby and the Pass Rush 35:36 Tarek on Kubiak's Play Calling and the Next Two Games 43:49 When Do the Raiders Switch to Fernando Mendoza? 51:09 Bills and Rams Ahead: What to Watch 52:07 Call-In Info and Sign-Off

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The Raiders have scored at least 26 points in every game, their first 4-game start like that since 2016, and Kirk Cousins threw for 365 yards against the Chiefs without being sacked. They also have the league's worst run game for the second straight year.

Scott starts with the number he can't shake: 57% of Ashton Jeanty's carries are met at or behind the line of scrimmage. From there he works through the numbers (3.1 yards a carry, 93 rushing yards a game, stuffed on 24.4% of runs, all last in the league) and the likely causes: a reshuffled offensive line still learning to work together, tight formations that invite stacked boxes (30.3% of runs, fourth highest in the NFL), and a receiver room with no vertical threat to move a safety out of the box. Klint Kubiak took responsibility for it this week. Scott agrees with part of that.

Then Boston Globe Patriots beat writer Chris Price joins from New England. They cover:

Raider Nation Court closes the show with callers on the run game, the wide receiver room, a possible Marvin Harrison Jr. trade, and how much future the Raiders should spend on a wild-card push.

01:33 The 57% number

03:24 The full picture: 3.1 yards a carry, 93 yards a game

05:35 Whose fault is it? Offensive line continuity

08:45 Tight formations and stacked boxes

09:51 No vertical threat at receiver

12:12 Signs of hope: Dont'e Thornton's return

14:03 Kalshi: Raiders-Patriots market

16:52 Why Foxboro won't make it easier

17:57 Verdict and the tell

19:45 Chris Price, Boston Globe: Patriots preview

22:05 What makes the Patriots run defense work

24:08 Gonzalez and Barmore injuries

25:41 Containing Bowers and Mayer

27:50 How the Raiders attack that defense

28:57 Drake Maye: confidence and timing

32:56 Developing young QBs, Fernando Mendoza included

36:41 Brady's wide receivers

38:43 Raider Nation Court

40:01 Raider Sky (New Jersey)

43:50 Raider Rob (San Diego)

47:59 Jacob (Fresno)

52:15 Dave Casper the Ghost (upstate New York)

57:42 Pick and sign-off

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The Las Vegas Raiders lost 30-27 to the Kansas City Chiefs, their first loss of the season. They led 13-10 at halftime, came back late in the fourth quarter and had the ball with a chance to win before the interception. Scott says they lost because of turnovers and special teams, not the field goal that came off the board. The Raiders lost the turnover battle 2-0, Draeke Young's late fumble hurt, and Patrick Mahomes said after the game that this Raiders team is different.

The offense is better than people expected. The Raiders are eighth in the NFL in points per game at 28.8 and 12th in passing. Kirk Cousins has 11 touchdown passes, tied with Brock Purdy for the league lead, and he broke Rich Gannon's 2002 franchise record for TD passes through four games. Scott explains why that's part of John Spytek's plan for Fernando Mendoza.

Then the two problems. The run game is 25th in the league, and Scott says Ashton Jeanty isn't the reason. Jeanty gets hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 57% of his carries. The offensive line ranks dead last in run block win rate with Jackson Powers-Johnson out, and defenses are loading the box against the Raiders at the second-highest rate in the NFL. The bigger issue is a wide receiver room with no vertical threat. Scott called that in July, and three national film analysts he checked with agree.

He also previews the four-game stretch of Patriots, Bills, Rams and Jets, explains why 2-2 and a 5-3 record is the floor, and why the Raiders won't trade for Marvin Harrison Jr.

Thursday: a guest joins to preview Raiders at New England, and the Raider Nation Court of Public Opinion takes your calls.

BE PART OF THE SHOW

Chapters:

00:00 Show open: Raiders lose a heavyweight fight to the Chiefs

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