At a Glance
- Myles Garrett recorded his 23rd sack of the season, breaking the NFL single-season record.
- He did it against Joe Burrow with 5:09 remaining in the fourth quarter.
- The Cleveland Browns won 20-18, a win that capped a 5-12 season.
- Why it matters: The record-setting play highlighted Garrett’s dominance and gave the Browns a rare victory in a tough year.
In a dramatic Sunday night game, Cleveland’s pass rusher Myles Garrett shattered the NFL single-season sack record with a 23rd blow on Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow, sealing a 20-18 win for the Cleveland Browns.
Record-Breaking Performance
With 5:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, Myles Garrett recorded his 23rd sack of the season, breaking the NFL single-season record. The play came against Joe Burrow of the Bengals, ending the game 20-18 in favor of the Cleveland Browns. Garrett had already amassed 51 career sacks, placing him among the league’s all-time leaders.
Myles Garrett said:
> “Despair. I was scared as hell,” Garrett said of the nightmare. “We got to deny fate, whatever it is, we got to make it happen. And I just went into it and still had the utmost confidence in myself and my preparation and in my guys.”
Kevin Stefanski said:
> “He’s the sack king,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “They’ve been playing this game for a long time, and for him to go get that in the circumstances with the degree of difficulty in which he got it this season is unbelievable.”
- 23 sacks, 5:09 left, 20-18 win, 49-yard field goal, 51 career sacks, 13 games with at least half a sack, 11 of last 12, 14 sacks in a five-game span.
Game Context and Aftermath
The Browns were 5-12 when Andre Szmyt kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired to finish 20-18 over the Bengals.
Zac Taylor said:
> “The refs just said they had made the decision as a crew that they were going to stop the game. It didn’t matter when it happened, they were going to stop the game,” Taylor said. “They said they tried to do it as quickly as possible. I feel that. (But) we didn’t sub. We’re trying to be on the ball and go, play tempo and the umpire just held the ball so that we couldn’t do anything.”
Joe Burrow said:
> “He’s the focus of the game plan every time we play them. It’s challenging because you have to commit resources to that and that takes away resources from elsewhere,” Burrow said. “For the most part, I thought we were pretty good against him today. But you can see how impactful he is. We have no help on him one time and he gets one. He’s an elite player.”
| Record Holder | Sacks |
|---|---|
| Michael Strahan | 22 ½ |
| T.J. Watt | 22 ½ |
| Myles Garrett | 23 |
The NFL began counting sacks officially in 1982. Mark Gastineau had 22 in 1984, Strahan surpassed him 17 seasons later, and Watt tied the record in 2021.
Season Overview and Outlook
Garrett’s season included 14 sacks in a five-game stretch, with five vs. the Patriots, four vs. the Ravens, and three vs. the Raiders. He also logged 33 tackles for loss, 77 pressures, and 31 quick pressures under 2.5 seconds. Garrett is a four-time All-Pro and is favored to win the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Myles Garrett said:
> “I wonder. Find your dreams come true. I mean, been waiting on this my whole life, my whole football career. So I knew I had it in me,” he said. “I wanted that 25, but they made it real difficult these last two games especially, but really these last three. So that’ll be the next journey, trying to go out there and get 25.”
Garrett’s parents, Audrey and Lawrence Garrett, watched from the stands, with Lawrence ready to capture the record-breaking moment on camera.
Key Takeaways
- Myles Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record with his 23rd blow on Joe Burrow.
- The win over the Bengals gave the Cleveland Browns a rare victory in a 5-12 season.
- Garrett’s dominant season earned him a four-time All-Pro nod and a strong chance at Defensive Player of the Year.
The record-breaking sack not only cemented Garrett’s legacy but also lifted the Browns’ morale as they close out a challenging season.
