If you have been following along at home, 2023 NFL Defensive player of the year Myles Garrett now has an NFL leading 18 sacks this season. This puts him within four and a half sacks to tie the single season record shared by TJ Watt in 2021 and Michael Strahan in 2001. At face value, five sacks in six games seems very doable. Nevertheless, Garrett will probably get every team’s best effort the rest of the way to avoid being the team that gave Myles Garrett the sack record. Let’s take a quick look at the opponents left on the schedule for Browns, and the men who will be tasked with blocking Garrett.
The journey to 23 sacks begins next Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. While they are 18th in pass block win rate per ESPN advanced analytics, they do feature perennial all pro left tackle Trent Williams. While Garrett may not always line up on the same side as Williams this may end up being the toughest individual test for him the rest of the way. The 49ers also feature right tackle Colton Mckivitz and tight end George Kittle. Kittle plays with his hair on fire at all times and will not be afraid to give each of the 49ers tackles chip help if needed.
Next up is a December tilt with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans also rank in the middle of the pack at 17th in ESPN advanced stats pass block win rate. They are led by left tackle JC Latham, a former first round pick from Alabama. Another consideration in this game will be the escapability of quarterback Cam Ward, as he has had to use his legs quite a bit to make plays for a Titans squad bereft of talent. The Browns then travel to Chicago to match up with the Bears. Under new coach Ben Johnson the Bears have found success on the offensive side of the ball. They have a quality line featuring tackles Darnell Wright and Theo Benedet, and guard Joe Thuney. As with Ward, Caleb Williams excels at breaking the pocket and improvising. He will hold the ball longer than most quarterbacks though, leaving Garrett with extra time to get home.
The week after the trip to Chicago brings the Buffalo Bills to town. The Bills offensive line is bookend by tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown. The Bills offensive line is one of the better units in the league and will pose a challenge for Garrett. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen, standing 6’5″ tall and weighing close to 240 pounds, is built more like a linebacker than a quarterback. He is always tough to bring down but is still one of the more sacked quarterbacks in the league due to his ability to extend plays and make something out of nothing.
Week 17 brings the rival Pittsburgh Steelers to town. I must admit, it would be rather poetic if Garrett were able to break the record against both the rival Steelers and the current record holder TJ Watt. Neither Aaron Rodgers or backup quarterback Mason Rudolph are scramblers, making this a prime opportunity for Garrett to rack up some sacks. The Steelers feature left tackle Broderick Jones. They also have tight end Darnell Washington. Washington, a mountain of a man at 6’7″ and almost 300 pounds, could be utilized as both chip help and as a receiver in the short pass game to mitigate Garrett. Lastly, the Browns travel to Cinncinati to play the Bengals in week 18. Garrett could be lining up against a hobbled Joe Burrow, or if the Bengals are eliminated from playoff contention possibly former Brown Joe Flacco. Either scenario would provide ample opportunities for Garrett to set the record, as the Cinncinati offense line has had trouble stopping almost anyone this year. Look for whoever plays quarterback for the Bengals to try get the ball out quick in this game.
In summary, Garrett has plenty of time to set the record, but it will not be easy. It will be fascinating to watch down the stretch to see how each team tries to stop him from making history.
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