Cardinals RB Kenyan Drake scores 4 touchdowns in his 1st win of 2019

Dec 15, 2019, 5:06 PM | Updated: Dec 16, 2019, 11:13 am

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) tries to elude Cleveland Browns free safety Damarious Randall (23) and middle linebacker Joe Schobert (53) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

BY KEVIN ZIMMERMAN

ArizonaSports.com lead editor

GLENDALE, Ariz. — It took 15 weeks of NFL action for running back Kenyan Drake to earn his first win.

He damn well earned it and deserved it.

Drake scored his fourth touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter of the Arizona Cardinals’ 38-24 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. In doing so, he became the first Cardinal to score four touchdowns since then-rookie running back Ronald Moore ran for four scores on Dec. 5, 1993, as a member of the Phoenix Cardinals.

“I just felt like it’s the next game. That was my mindset the whole time,” Drake said Sunday. “Really wasn’t really thinking about (his first individual win) until it got to the point where people talked about it. I was just kind of focused on being where my feet are, taking advantage of the opportunities I was given.”

His feet were certainly not where the Browns players’ feet were. Drake finished the game with 22 carries for 137 yards, an average of 6.2 yards per tote. He also caught a pass for nine yards.

This season, Drake did not experience a win as a member of the Miami Dolphins. He played in six of the first seven games with Miami before being dealt to Arizona, where he lost an additional five games in a row.

Drake couldn’t remember the last time he scored four touchdowns.

But he was grateful for the trust the Cardinals have put in him just a few months into his tenure.

Drake joined Arizona on Oct. 28 after he fell out of favor with the Dolphins, who traded him to Arizona for a conditional draft pick.

“It’s just been really amazing,” Drake said. “To say the least, I went from being in a situation where I was just in a specific role and I wasn’t really getting the carries I felt like I could help the team win games.”

But with Drake’s success comes Arizona teammates now experiencing what he did in Miami.

Drake, a free agent this coming offseason, answered why Arizona might consider signing him to a new contract. And that on Sunday again led to a heavily reduced role for former starting running back David Johnson.

Johnson took three carries for six yards, one of which came in garbage time. Fellow running back Chase Edmonds didn’t earn a single touch on offense.

Array

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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is tackled by Cleveland Browns defensive back T.J. Carrie (38) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake, center, is tackled by Cleveland Browns free safety Damarious Randall, left, and Cleveland Browns cornerback Greedy Williams, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) is hit by Cleveland Browns defensive back Sheldrick Redwine during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) can't make the catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy (33) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws under pressure from Arizona Cardinals linebacker Cassius Marsh (54) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chandler Jones during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) dives into the end zone for the touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) celebrates his interception in the end zone against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake, right, celebrates his touchdown against the Cleveland Browns with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Damiere Byrd during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) scrambles as Cleveland Browns defensive end Chad Thomas defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

An Arizona Cardinals fan cheers during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

An Arizona Cardinals fan holds a sign during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cleveland Browns linebacker Mack Wilson (51) intercepts a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Cleveland Browns linebacker Mack Wilson is tackled by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Charles Clay (85) pulls in a touchdown catch as Cleveland Browns defensive back Sheldrick Redwine (29) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals tight end Charles Clay (85) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) jumps into the end zone for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake (41) celebrates his touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens watches his team prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, left, greets Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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