What is the Red Zone in Football?

Though not a formal term, the red zone is vital for understanding the tactical and strategic fundamentals of football. It is the part of the field where scoring is most likely to take place, and thus critical for both the offense and the defense. A team that scores a lot of points in the red zone--particularly touchdowns--tends to do well. Similarly, a defense that can hold in the red zone--limiting the offense to field goals or even no points at all--gives its offense a much better chance of winning the game.

Definition

The red zone is the space between the defensive side's 20 yard line and the end zone in a football field. There are thus two red zones on each field, but because teams switch ends of the field every quarter, either team can find themselves driving into either red zone.

Importance to the Offense

For a football offense, the red zone is the opportunity to "close the deal" and put the ball in the end zone. The field gets shortened considerably; running plays eat up a larger percentage of the remaining turf, while passing plays can be shorter and quicker, leading to a higher percentage of successful completions. Field goals tend to be much more successful in the red zone as well, so even if the offense bogs down, it can still walk away from the drive with points.

Importance to the Defense

For the defense, things in the red zone are much more desperate. This is its last real chance to keep the offense from scoring, a "do-or-die" stand that leaves no room for error. Flat-out stopping a score is uncommon, but holding an offense to a field goal in the red zone is considered satisfactory.

Red Zone Plays

Offense-based red zone plays often center around "asserting will" over the defense. It may be through a quick pass or a slow, methodical drive, but whatever the method, it constitutes a key psychological advantage. An offense that can assert its will with an effective red zone play sheds doubt on the defense's ability, while a defense that holds in the end zone might make the offense question its ability to score points.

Terminology

The red zone is never marked on the field itself--nothing formally differentiates the red zone from any other part of the field--but becomes an extremely useful tool when planning strategy. Commentators will often speak of the red zone when gauging a team's overall effectiveness. Similarly, coaches often emphasize red zone plays as a means of successfully completing a drive (or stymieing the opponents').