The upcoming matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on December 31, 2023, has heightened stakes with Browns defensive end Myles Garrett chasing a significant milestone. After a Week 17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, in which Garrett did not register a sack, he expressed his thoughts on the situation, stating that he felt the Steelers were “more worried about keeping me away from” the single-season sack record than focusing on winning the game. Currently, Garrett is sitting on 22 sacks, just a half-sack away from the official NFL record of 22.5 and the unofficial record of 23.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow provided insight into his approach as Garrett aims for the record. Burrow confirmed he plans to focus strictly on the game rather than altering his strategy to assist or hinder Garrett’s pursuit. “Yeah, I’m certainly not going to overcompensate either way,” Burrow stated, as reported by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “I’m going to go and play football.”
The two met earlier this season in Week 1, where the Bengals edged out the Browns with a score of 17-16. In that game, Garrett sacked Burrow twice, showcasing his impact on the field. Burrow reflected on the dynamics of playing against such a formidable opponent, noting, “There’s going to be situations where a sack is the best of the bad outcomes of that play, and maybe I take one. There’s going to be other situations where I need to throw it away.”
As of Thursday morning, betting odds from DraftKings Sportsbook positioned Garrett as a strong favorite at -20000 to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second time in his career. Burrow, who has faced Garrett multiple times as rivals in the league, holds a deep respect for his abilities. “He’s more athletic than everybody else on the field — bigger, stronger than everybody else,” Burrow remarked.
Burrow went on to describe Garrett’s unique mindset, saying, “He has a mindset that he’s not too high or too low at any point, which is pretty unique for a defensive lineman.” The Bengals quarterback emphasized that he appreciates Garrett not only as an athlete but also as a person. “He takes his job very seriously and is a guy I have a lot of respect for.”
As the Bengals prepare for this critical game, it remains to be seen how the matchup will unfold. Should Garrett remain without a sack in the fourth quarter, some speculate Burrow might give him a chance to achieve his record. Regardless of the outcome, both players are set to make their mark in what promises to be an exciting finish to the NFL regular season.
