The Pittsburgh Steelers have been called out for their game plan against the Cleveland Browns and Myles Garrett, who is one sack away from setting the NFL single-season record.
The Steelers’ play-calling against the Browns was clearly designed to limit Garrett’s chances of reaching the quarterback, but it often came at the expense of the offense. Fans quickly noticed the conservative approach and took to social media to criticize Pittsburgh, many echoing the same frustrations.
“The Steelers would rather lose this game than give up a sack to Myles Garrett,” one fan said.
“The Steelers are literally willing to lose to avoid this Myles Garrett sack,” another added. “This is insane to watch.”
Garrett had a few opportunities but the Steelers mostly kept quarterback Aaron Rodgers away from the superstar pass-rusher. When Garrett got close, Rodgers dumped the ball off, often for incompletions. The Steelers also ran away from him and made sure to have a bevy of blockers available to slow him down.
For the Steelers, a lot was on the line against the three-win Browns. A win would have sealed the division and a playoff berth.
“Watching the Steelers offense, I am not sure if they’re trying to win the game or just simply stop Myles Garrett from getting a sack,” another added.
Browns DE Myles Garrett Wanted Aaron Rodgers for Record
Garrett anticipated that bringing down Rodgers wouldn’t be easy, citing the 42-year-old quarterback’s quick release and command of the offense — and Rodgers proved him right. Garrett said the key was eliminating easy throws and forcing Rodgers to progress through his reads.
“Gotta take away those easy access throws, make him look at his second read,” Garrett said. “There’ll be opportunities if we continue to get stops during the game, and he can’t continue to lean on those quick passes, when you gotta score points.”
Garrett acknowledged that sacking Rodgers — a four-time MVP — would carry extra meaning as he continues his pursuit of a historic milestone. He entered with 22 sacks and needed just one more to break the record of 22.5 held jointly by Michael Strahan and TJ Watt.
“He’s legendary himself. And it’s a legendary record I’m out here chasing,” Garrett said. “So that’d be a great one to put a picture on the wall with.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that Garrett has been a significant problem for Pittsburgh in recent trips to Cleveland.
“Myles Garrett has certainly been an issue for us in that venue,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “I think he’s had five sacks against us in our last two trips, neither of which we won. And so we understand the gravity of what we’re going into and how they engineer victory and who’s significant in doing so. He’s at the doorstep of history, and so we certainly have respect for that.”
Browns Star Myles Garrett Has All-Time Record in Sights
Looking beyond the immediate season, Garrett believes the NFL’s all-time sack record is attainable. The benchmark of 200, set by Bruce Smith, remains the standard, but with 124.5 career sacks already on his résumé, Garrett feels the path toward history is clearly in front of him.
“At the pace I’m on now, I feel like I could get it in about five years,” Garrett said. “I do think about it, and I honestly believe I’m still getting better. I’ll be knocking on his door pretty soon. He’s got that little graveyard he did a couple years back — all those graves — and he had to show me up. But that’s OK. I’m going to catch him.”
Garrett will have one more shot to set the single-season record against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18.
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