CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns headed west looking for a much-needed road win to remain in realistic contention for a playoff spot, but an inability to stop the run and generate scoring plays when they possessed the ball reduced those chances further last week.
Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake scored four rushing touchdowns and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray added a fifth through the air in the third quarter on the way to a 38-24 win over the Browns (6-8) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“Defensively, we were not able to stop the run,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. “We have to do a better job of shedding blocks, getting off and making tackles.
“Not fitting our gaps and shedding blocks. I thought they did a good job of putting our eyes in the wrong place. We did not do a good enough job once we were in situations to make the play. We did not make the plays.”
RELATED | ‘I’m just here to win.’ Kareem Hunt all about helping Cleveland Browns finish strong in 2019
It did not take long for the Cardinals to march down the field against the Browns’ defense, and they finished the opening drive of the game with a rushing touchdown on an option pitch from Murray to Drake.
On second-and-goal from the Browns’ five-yard line, Murray took the shotgun snap, ran to the left of the formation and pitched the ball to Drake, who after securing the toss, cut through Cleveland’s defense and into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
The Cardinals covered 90 yards on the opening drive in just 10 plays.
Murray completed all five of his throws on the drive for 52 yards, while Drake rushed for 34 yards and the touchdown on three carries.
RELATED | ‘We’ve got our work cut out for us.’ Cleveland Browns expect stern test from Baltimore Ravens
Following the opening-drive score and getting one defensive stop, the Browns could not prevent Murray from making plays with his feet or his arm on the third possession of the first half.
After Murray moved the offense down the field with a 35-yard run and 35 yards combined on back-to-back passes inside Cleveland territory, he handed off to Drake, and the veteran ball carrier fought his way to a one-yard touchdown, his second score of the game.
“The game of football is about one-on-one matchups and winning those one-on-one matchups. We have to do a better job defensively of beating the guy that is in front of us. Yes, in that sense, usually you can attest it to winning a one-on-one matchup.
“We just need to execute defensively. We need to shed blocks better. We just need to do our jobs better.”
The Browns did not have much time to make those necessary improvements on defense, not with the AFC North Division Champion Baltimore Ravens coming to FirstEnergy Stadium on a 10-game winning streak and still stinging from a Week 4 loss to Cleveland in Baltimore.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson leads the team in both passing (2,889 yards) and rushing (1,103 yards) heading into the final two weeks of the season.
“Making corrections on the tape getting our guys eyes in the right place,” Kitchens said, “and then, when you have a one-on-one matchup, you have to beat your defender.”