red zone

noun

: the area of a football field inside an opponent's 20-yard line

Examples of red zone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fair or not, one thing that soured some Seahawks fans on Geno was inexplicable mistakes in critical moments (bad red zone INTs, in particular). Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 Bauman isn’t nearly as skilled a blocker as the departing Cam McCormick but is a much better receiver and red zone threat. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025 What once consumed 7-10 hours for a video staff on a Monday during the season — recording limited, situation-specific plays (red zone, third down, etc.) onto Betamax tapes — could now be replicated in seconds with greater depth on a computer by any coach. Mike Sando, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 The Eagles have one of the NFL’s top red zone defenses, keeping teams out of the end zone on 43% of their trips, and the Chiefs’ red zone offense, better lately, ranks 22nd in the NFL. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for red zone

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red zone was in 1972

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Cite this Entry

“Red zone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20zone. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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