Raiders need to get closer to league punting average

[ASFN Admin]

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 04: AJ Cole #6 of the Las Vegas Raiders punts against the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yes, AJ Cole is a sublime punting talent and he’s fun to watch.

But we need to see him play less this season. The average number of punts in an NFL game is down acr0ss the league. But not in Las Vegas.

A recent post on X by NFL analyst (and former Raiders’ employee) Ryan Paganetti shows that the average number of punts per team is way down. The league average in 2025 was 3.58 punts per game.

The NFL punt is disappearing.

Punts per game per team:

2009: 4.78
2017: 4.75
2025: 3.58

From 2009 to 2017, punt volume was basically flat.
From 2017 to 2025, it dropped 25%.

Fourth-down aggression is rapidly changing the sport.

Just 13% of 2025 punts came in opposing…

— Ryan Paganetti (@RyanPaganetti) July 1, 2026

The Raiders among the league leaders with a 4.29 per game punting average. One of the reasons why Klint Kubiak was hired as the Raiders’ head coach was his Seattle Seahawks were a powerhouse. He was the offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl-winning team. Seattle averaged well below the league average at just 3.0 punts a game.

Of course, aggression on fourth down will play a role as well. Let’s see how Kubiak handles that as well.

So, if we see less of Cole (holding on field-goal attempts is fine, of course, punting, Kubiak will be doing is job.

In other Raiders’ news:

• Division pre: The Raiders’ website has an AFC West preview.
• QB rankings: PFF ranks the 32 starting quarterbacks.

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