Myles Garrett: Steelers' Focus on Sack Record, Not Game Win
Myles Garrett, the star pass rusher for the Cleveland Browns, made a bold statement after the team's 13-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He claimed that the Steelers were more concerned about preventing him from breaking the NFL single-season sack record than securing a win. Garrett, who currently holds 22 sacks, expressed his pride in the team's effort, emphasizing their focus on the bigger picture.
The Steelers' strategy against Garrett was evident in their defensive tactics. They employed various techniques, including chipping and doubling him, to disrupt his performance. According to Next Gen Stats, Garrett was chipped or doubled 16 times (41%) of the 23 pass plays. When not targeted directly, the Steelers quickly threw or rolled away from Garrett, with Rodgers averaging a lightning-fast 2.39 seconds to throw, the quickest among qualified quarterbacks against the Browns this season.
Garrett highlighted the Steelers' approach, suggesting they were adopting a similar mindset to the Packers. He noted their willingness to throw everything at him, even when he was lined up, indicating a potential strategy to avoid giving him the record. However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin denied any connection between their game plan and the sack record. He stated that their approach was standard and unrelated to the significance of the record.
The Steelers' loss now sets up a crucial AFC North showdown with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football in Week 18. Meanwhile, Garrett has the opportunity to make history in the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, aiming to break the sack record co-held by T.J. Watt and Michael Strahan.
