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Washington Commanders OC unhappy with red zone play despite win over Bears
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Washington Commanders OC unhappy with red zone play despite win over Bears

THE Washington Commanders may have pulled off a last-second win against the Chicago Bears in Week 8, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury isn’t happy with how the offense is doing in the red zone. Despite making solid progress on the field on Sunday, the team missed key opportunities to put more points on the scoreboard. Kingsbury didn’t shy away from addressing the offense’s weaknesses and what needs to change.

“Yeah, it definitely needs to be better. I think we moved the ball well at times against Chicago, but we had opportunities to really put it away a few times.” Commanders admitted the offensive coordinator. “I thought it could put a lot of pressure on them, make them more one-dimensional and we just floundered there, whether it was bad game decisions or the type of execution we expect.”

Kingsbury made it clear that red zone struggles are nothing new. Washington faced similar issues when they first met the Giants earlier this season, and he knows they can’t afford a repeat if they want to stay at the top of the division. Kingsbury sees room for improvement in playing decisions and on-field performance, and he has made it clear that changes are needed.

Cliff Kingsbury, Washington offensive coordinator

September 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, United States; Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“And like the New York game as well, it’s just about making better plays and executing better. And our guys know we can’t expect to win like that,” he said.

The Commanders defense, meanwhile, continued to show up, fighting to keep the team in the game and creating scoring opportunities. But for Kingsbury, it’s hard to see the offense spoil the defense’s hard work. He acknowledged the defense’s efforts and expressed frustration that the offense was unable to capitalize on those opportunities.

“The defense did a tremendous job of continuing to get the ball, they continued to give us a chance to put this team away, but we just didn’t do it,” Kingsbury admitted.

This week, Kingsbury and the Commanders offense returned to practice focused on fine-tuning their red zone strategy, knowing that turning those opportunities into touchdowns is essential, especially if they want to beat the New York Giants a second time.

Stay with CommanderGameday and the Locked Commanders podcast for more FREE Washington Commanders coverage throughout the 2024 season.

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