The Cleveland Browns, at 4-12, head to Cincinnati at 6-10 for their season finale with no playoffs for either, but history will be hanging in the balance. Fresh off a gritty 13–6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Browns now face the Cincinnati Bengals in a rivalry that has increasingly revolved around one unavoidable truth: Myles Garrett has made life miserable for Joe Burrow.
Garrett enters the finale with 22 sacks, half a sack shy of tying the NFL single-season record and one full sack from standing alone atop league history. The moment feels almost scripted—Myles Garrett chasing immortality against the quarterback he has dominated more than any other.
Myles Garrett vs. Joe Burrow: NFL Sack Record on the Line in Browns-Bengals Season Finale
A Historic Chase Backed by All-Time Greatness
This pursuit is not happening in isolation. As of late December 2025, Myles Garrett owns 124.5 career sacks in just 132 games, already placing him firmly among the NFL’s defensive legends. His 22 sacks this season are tied for the third-most in a single season in league history, and they shattered his previous personal and franchise highs of 16 sacks set in 2021 and 2022—marks he broke back in November.
Garrett has now posted double-digit sacks in eight consecutive seasons, a level of consistency matched by only the greatest pass rushers the game has ever seen. Earlier this year, Garrett passed Lawrence Taylor to become the first player in NFL history with at least 12 sacks in six straight seasons. He also surpassed Reggie White for the most sacks recorded before a player’s 30th birthday, further cementing his place in rare company.
A Familiar Target in a Historic Moment
No quarterback has felt Garrett’s impact more than Joe Burrow. Entering the finale, Garrett has recorded 12 career sacks against Burrow, including two in the season opener. Garrett’s 100th career sack fittingly came against Burrow in December 2024—a symbolic milestone in a matchup that has been tilted in Cleveland’s favor.
In nine career games against the Browns, Joe Burrow is 4-5, a record shaped by constant pressure. Across those matchups, Cleveland’s defense has piled up 30 sacks and five interceptions, with Myles Garrett responsible for nearly half of the sacks himself. Even in Bengals wins, Burrow has rarely found comfort.
The Opener Set the Tone
That dynamic was on full display in the season opener on September 7, 2025. Cincinnati escaped with a 17-16 win, but only after Cleveland left points on the field with an easy missed extra point and a missed field goal. The scoreline hid what was, in reality, a dominant defensive performance by the Browns.
Joe Burrow finished the game 14-of-23 (60.9%) for just 113 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt with one touchdown, no interceptions, and three sacks, two of them delivered by Myles Garrett. Cleveland consistently collapsed the pocket, limited explosive plays, and forced Cincinnati to grind for every yard.
Pressure Creates Consequences
As Myles Garrett closes in on the sack record, the impact of his pressure extends far beyond the box score. When Garrett forces Joe Burrow off his spot, Cincinnati is often forced into quick throws and perimeter options simply to survive. That makes Cleveland’s ability to eliminate those escape routes critical—and it’s why the matchup between Browns All-Pro cornerback Denzel Ward and Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase looms large.
In the season opener, Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase struggled to generate separation against man-to-man coverage, with Chase catching just two of five targets for 26 yards when matched against Ward. That coverage forced Burrow to hesitate, allowing Garrett and the Browns’ pass rush to close in. If Cleveland can again win on the outside, the Bengals’ margin for error shrinks dramatically, setting the stage for another tight, defense-driven battle.
When those safety valves disappear, Burrow is left holding the ball just long enough for Myles Garrett to do what he has done better than anyone in 2025: finish the play and threaten history.
One Game, One Sack, One Defining Moment
Now it comes down to one final season game in Cincinnati. The league’s most dominant pass rusher stands on the brink of history, facing the quarterback who has felt his dominance more than any other. Joe Burrow will need flawless protection calls, instant processing, and perfect timing. One hesitation—one breakdown—and Myles Garrett breaks the record.
The Browns arrive confident and locked in. The Bengals know exactly what’s coming, having lived it year after year. When Myles Garrett lines up across from Joe Burrow one more time, the NFL sack record hangs in the balance—and the defining chapter for a player who could end his career as the greatest at his position.