Bears red zone troubles a new experience for Ben Johnson offense
Ben Johnson's most stark reminder he no longer has the Detroit Lions offense comes whenever his Bears offense gets near the goal line.
In Sunday's 30-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens,
While Johnson was offensive coordinator in Detroit, the Lions finished third last year, second in 2023 and No. 4 in his first season of 2022.
"We had good field position on offense a number of times and we simply didn't score enough points," Johnson said Monday. "We have to eliminate the penalties. We're shooting ourselves in the foot way too much and we've got to be more efficient in the red zone, as well, on offense."
This is what happens when an offense living off the fat of 15 takeaways in four weeks from their defense suddenly must fend for itself in the red zone to keep the four-game winning streak alive. They settled for 15 field goals in the past four games because of red zone issues and three-point kicks are not enough.
"Man, it's really not that far off from how we've played the previous four games, and yet we won because we had those takeaways," Johnson said. "This week we didn't get the takeaways and when you play ugly football like that, it's a lot more difficult to win the ball game. We're on a mission here this week to get this all cleaned up and I have complete confidence that we'll do that."
Specifically, there is the penalty issue. They had only a few presnap penalties Sunday and just one in the red zone that they overcame, but the penalties are fouling up the offense in general. There are also issues again with getting plays called and off in time.
Johnson said they took too long to get their last play off on fourth down near the goal line at the end of the game, then appeared rushed as Caleb Williams threw incomplete wide to DJ Moore.
"They're meeting right now," Johnson said. "We didn't go over that one as a unit. I got pulled in a different direction here, so I'll get clarity on why that took so long.
"There was a couple times there on silent cadence that we weren't quite as efficient as we needed to be on that last drive. That's (last pass) one that Caleb would like to have back. We've gotta hook up on that."
As challenging for the offense was the failure of the running game in the red zone.
“We go in each week with a plan to attack the defenses that we’re anticipating, that we’re seeing on tape there," Johnson said. "We play a lot of onus on being able to run the ball down there. I thought we could have done a little bit better inside the 10.
"This week we had some negative plays that certainly didn’t help the cause. I feel good about the plan that we put into place. We’ve just got to focus on our execution and our details.”
Johnson's comments after the game indicated he's fed up with the mistakes like presnap penalties and was going to let team leaders try to fix the apparent lack of concentration, but coaches have made yet another attempt.
"It’s discipline," Johnson said. "They’re as fed up with it as everyone us in the building. They understand it’s just not what good football teams do and I think they’re going to take ownership of it. I think we’re going to be just fine.”
Williams makes his share of mistakes all over the field as a young quarterback but the concentration issues and small mistakes are making it impossible for all of them to get the job done.
The Bears are just behind the Jaguars in penalties per game in second overall, and with 11 Sunday it seems they're not getting better at solving this.
"We’ve talked about it with the players," Johnson said. "We’ll certainly make sure that they understand … especially now that we lost a game and penalties were a big culprit as to why we didn’t have the success we wanted to. I think it really opens pandora’s box up here where, ‘hey, all hands on deck here, we’ve got to get this thing fixed.’
"We’ve been harping on it as a coaching staff and when it results in a loss, I think it just magnifies the issue that was at hand.”
The positive side of all this is if they're able to eliminate the mental errors and sloppy offensive play now, it's only cost them three losses. They've still got 10 games to operate more efficiently.
The bottom line, and Johnson said as much, is none of it gets fixed easily.
"As much as we would love to fix it instantaneously, it takes time and effort and focus,” center Drew Dalman said.
Time is precious come Week 9 of the NFL season.
Dillon Gabriel Faces Growing Frustration Over Ineffective Long Drives, Fans Question His Ability to Bring Stability to Browns' Offense
The Cleveland Browns' offensive woes have continued to plague the team, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel is now at the center of growing frustration from both fans and analysts alike. Despite his early promise, Gabriel has struggled to lead the team effectively, particularly when it comes to executing long, sustained drives. His inability to maintain consistency and generate meaningful plays has left many questioning whether he can provide the stability the Browns so desperately need on offense.
Throughout the season, the Browns have faced difficulty in putting together consistent offensive performances, and the lack of effectiveness on long drives has been a significant part of the issue. Gabriel, who had been seen as a potential answer to the team's offensive struggles, has failed to establish a rhythm, particularly on third downs and in the red zone, where long drives are crucial. Fans have voiced their disappointment on social media and in stadiums, citing missed opportunities and a lack of command during critical moments.
“It’s just not clicking,” said one disappointed fan after a recent game. “Dillon shows flashes of being capable, but when it matters most, he can’t get the offense moving. We’ve seen it too many times this season—long drives that stall, and no consistency. It’s frustrating.”
Gabriel, who was brought in to stabilize the quarterback position and bring some consistency to the offense, has been unable to consistently produce those moments of stability. His performance, while not devoid of potential, has been marred by errors, missed throws, and an inability to string together multiple successful plays when it counts.
“I'm trying to do my best out there, but it’s clear we need more consistency,” Gabriel said after the latest loss. “I take full responsibility for the struggles on offense. I know I need to be better, and I’m working hard to fix the issues. But I understand the frustration of the fans—this team deserves better.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has stood by Gabriel through the ups and downs, addressed the growing frustration during his post-game press conference, emphasizing the need for improvement across the board. “We’re all looking for better execution, and that starts with me as the head coach. Dillon knows what he needs to work on, and we’re all committed to making those improvements as a team,” Stefanski said.
Despite the setbacks, Gabriel remains hopeful that the offense can turn things around, citing the team’s overall talent and potential. However, as the season progresses, the pressure is mounting on Gabriel to prove that he can bring the stability and leadership that the Browns need to get back on track. The fans’ growing frustration with the offense suggests that time is running out for Gabriel to find consistency and live up to expectations as the Browns’ starting quarterback.
With the Browns facing a critical stretch of games, all eyes will be on Gabriel and whether he can finally get the offense to function at a high level. If he cannot lead the team to more effective and sustained drives, his role as the quarterback could be in jeopardy, and the Browns’ playoff aspirations may continue to slip further out of reach.
