Myles Garrett is knocking on the door of NFL history. Sitting just 1.5 sacks away from the single-season sack record, the Browns’ star pass rusher has a chance to etch his name into the record books this week. But while Garrett’s chase for greatness is the headline, the bigger story might be what the entire Cleveland defense can do against a Buffalo Bills offense that thrives on chaos, speed, and big plays.
Let’s start with Garrett. He’s been a game-wrecker all season long, and this week, he’ll be hunting down Josh Allen - a quarterback who’s as dangerous outside the pocket as he is inside it.
That’s where things get tricky. Allen isn’t just mobile; he’s elusive, with a knack for extending plays and turning broken-down situations into highlight-reel moments.
So while Garrett and the rest of the Browns’ front will be looking to get home, the real key will be keeping Allen contained. Pressure is great - but discipline in the pass rush might be even more important.
If Cleveland can keep Allen from escaping and force him to make throws from the pocket, they’ll have a much better shot at slowing down a Buffalo offense that’s built to strike fast and often. The Bills love to push the tempo and hit on chunk plays, so Cleveland’s defense has to focus on limiting yards after the catch and wrapping up on first contact. Missed tackles against this group can quickly turn a modest gain into a momentum-shifting play.
And here’s why that matters: the Browns’ offense isn’t built to play from behind. They’re at their best when the defense sets the tone early, keeps the game close, and gives the offense a chance to control the tempo. If Buffalo jumps out to a quick lead, it puts a lot of pressure on a Cleveland attack that hasn’t always been built for shootouts.
That makes situational defense - third downs and red zone stops - absolutely critical. If the Browns can force field goals instead of touchdowns, or better yet, get off the field entirely, they’ll give themselves a real shot. That’s been a formula for success all season: bend but don’t break, and give Garrett and the pass rush a chance to close out games in the fourth quarter.
This matchup isn’t just about one man chasing a record - it’s about a defense that’s been elite all year trying to put the clamps on one of the league’s most explosive offenses. If they can do that, and if Garrett can finish his historic run with a bang, Cleveland could walk away with more than just a win - they could walk away with a statement.