CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns’ inability to stop the run or contain a two-dimensional quarterback within the pocket reduced their chances of making the postseason and breaking the National Football League’s longest active playoff drought at 16 years.
The Arizona Cardinals had success in both phases of the offense in last Sunday’s game, as running back Kenyan Drake scored four rushing touchdowns and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray added a fifth with a passing score in the third quarter on the way to a 38-24 win over the Browns (6-8) at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“When you look at the opportunities that we have had the latter part of this season to try and stay in this hunt, it is disappointing how we came out and responded,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “Just looked flat. I really put a lot of that back on me from the standpoint of getting these guys prepared and ready to play.
“I have to do a much better job of putting these guys in position to be successful. When we are in position, we have to make sure that we finish and execute. We did not make enough plays the previous week. We found ourselves being able to get off the field on third down, and in the red zone, hold our opponent to field goals. That was the exact difference this past week.”
Despite the disappointment, the Browns had no time to waste in making 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 and is the frontrunner for the NFL Most Valuable Player Award.
“It is short-term memory in this league,” Wilks said. “You have to get ready for the next one. Win or lose, you have to prepare yourself as professionals. That starts with us, as coaches, to be able to get these guys back. That has been our approach and really trying to have a solid game plan in trying to detail the things that we need to once again to put these guys in position to be successful.”
RELATED | Myles Garrett’s helmet swing immortalized in ink as Cleveland Browns fan gets tattoo of incident
Jackson is the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 2,500 yards and rush for another 1,000 in a single season, and his 1,103 yards on the ground are the most ever in a single season by an NFL quarterback.
Over the last seven games, Jackson has completed 70.3 percent of his attempts for 1,239 yards and 22 touchdowns against one interception for a 130.9 quarterback rating. Also, Jackson has rushed for 527 yards and four touchdowns.
“It is a going to be a complete team effort, particularly up front,” Wilks said. “We have to make sure that we try to flush him lateral when going east and west, and then, try to get population to the ball. That is going to be the key.
“As men, players and coaches, it is about trying to compete, and regardless of the situation, playoffs or not, it is about going out there and performing well. It is the name on the front of the jersey as Cleveland Browns, and most importantly, it is the name on the back. That is what we represent, and we are going to try to do everything we can to win this football game and try to finish strong.”