The Browns are a mess.
But that’s got nothing to do with Myles Garrett’s play on the field. Cleveland’s All-Pro pass rusher remains one of the best defenders of his generation and is the midst of another stellar season. On Sunday, he reached an NFL first.
Garrett sacked Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley twice on Sunday. His second increased his season tally to 14 to tie him for the NFL lead with Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson.
It also marked his fourth consecutive season with 14-plus sacks, making him the first player in NFL history to achieve that feat. Reggie White didn’t do it. Bruce Smith didn’t do it. Julius Peppers didn’t do it. Kevin Greene didn’t do it.
Sunday’s pair of sacks raises Garrett’s career tally to 102.5 in seven seasons. He reached the tally on his 29th birthday and projects to finish among the league’s all-time sack leaders (Smith with 200 is No. 1) if he stays healthy. He’s now reached double-digit sacks in seven consecutive seasons.
Sadly for the Browns, his prowess has not translated to success. With Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, Cleveland failed to score a touchdown Sunday and lost, 20-3 to a Dolphins team playing without Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle. The Browns fell to 3-13 and are in the midst of their sixth losing campaign in the eight seasons since they drafted Garrett No. 1 overall.
Garrett, of course, can only do so much as one player. As he continues to attack the record books, Browns fans can only hope that the Browns don’t completely waste his prime.
