Despite scoring more than 30 points for the first time this season, the Bears have been working on punching the ball into the end zone after falling to the Lions in overtime Sunday 37-34.
For the most part, Chicago was rather effective moving the ball against Detroit with a healthy Alshon Jeffery in the lineup. It was the efficiency in the red zone that tripped up the Bears. The official stats stated the Bears were 3-for-8 (38 percent) in red zone efficiency in the overtime loss to Detroit.
Bears coach John Fox said the yardage game played in the red zone makes it difficult to score from there consistently without a big play.
I think it’s a hard part of the field, Bears head coach John Fox said. It’s harder to run because the field is short and it’s harder to pass because the field is short. I think it’s an area that I wished we could have executed better. I think there are some reasons; some of it’s availability and you know I think it’s an area we’ll look at and work to improve on.
Jay Cutler and Jeffery teamed up for a scoring toss in the end zone once, but were picked off when trying to score late into the contest.
With weapons like Martellus Bennett, Jeffery and Matt Forte, the Bears should be one of the best red zone teams. On offense, they have an impact player in each phase. However, if the offensive line doesn’t give Cutty enough time to throw the ball everyone looks bad.
