Myles Garrett is knocking on the door of history. After registering half a sack in a gritty battle against the Buffalo Bills, the Browns’ defensive cornerstone now sits just one sack shy of breaking the single-season sack record. With two regular-season games left on the calendar - against the Steelers and Bengals - Garrett has a real shot not just to break the record, but to put some distance between himself and the previous mark.
But the road to the record won’t be easy, especially this week.
Next up: the Pittsburgh Steelers. And while Cleveland has home-field advantage, Pittsburgh brings plenty of challenges - starting with a 9-6 record and a defense-first identity that mirrors Cleveland’s own. This is a rivalry game with playoff implications, and it’s exactly the kind of physical, trench-heavy matchup where every inch matters.
For Garrett, the biggest hurdle might not even be the Steelers’ offensive line - it’s the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers, now under center in Pittsburgh, has been getting the ball out faster than anyone in the league this season.
That quick release neutralizes edge rushers like Garrett, making it a nightmare scenario for anyone trying to get home. Even if Garrett wins his one-on-one battles - and he often does - the window to actually finish the play is razor-thin.
And it’s not just Rodgers. The Steelers know Garrett well.
These AFC North foes see each other twice a year, and Mike Tomlin is one of the best in the league at crafting game plans to neutralize elite talent. Expect Garrett to be chipped, doubled, and schemed against from the opening snap.
Pittsburgh saw what Buffalo did - Garrett was held without a sack, quarterback hit, or tackle for loss - and they’ll be looking to replicate that blueprint.
In their first meeting back in Week 6, Garrett was held without a stat in the backfield. That’s rare for a player of his caliber, and you can bet it’s something he hasn’t forgotten.
But it also shows just how tough this matchup could be. The Steelers know how to make life difficult for him.
All of that points to Week 18 against the Bengals as the more likely setting for Garrett’s record-breaking moment. Cincinnati’s offensive line has had its struggles this season, and while nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, the matchup on paper looks more favorable for Garrett to do what he does best - disrupt, dominate, and deliver in the clutch.
Still, don’t count him out this week. Garrett has made a career out of defying expectations and rising to the moment. With a record on the line and the postseason looming, the Browns' defensive captain will be coming full throttle - whether the sack comes this week or next.