Myles Garrett set the single-season sack record last Sunday when Cleveland beat Cincinnati. Garrett’s feat triggered a few sidebars.
• Did anybody in seasons past perform in more record-worthy fashion despite having fewer sacks than Garrett?
• Did Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow lay down on Garrett’s milestone sack, effectively giving the record to the Browns’ edge rusher?
These notions are of particular interest in Pittsburgh, since T.J. Watt of this parish was the record’s previous holder. Garrett got one sack this past Sunday and 23 on the season, exactly a half-sack more than Watt had in 2021 and the New York Giants’ Michael Strahan had in 2001.
Addressing the former debate, the record is most sacks in a season. Garrett did that. No further context or nuance is needed, but I’ll add some later regardless.
Regarding the latter discussion, Garrett didn’t exactly batter Burrow. It was tame in terms of destruction inflicted.
When Brett Favre intentionally went flat to gift Strahan the record in 2001 — and rightly anger the previous holder, the New York Jets’ Mark Gastineau — it was clearly a matter of nudge-nudge, wink-wink.
But it didn’t look like Burrow took a dive.
Why would he?
Former Steeler James Harrison thinks he knows.
On his podcast with Joe Haden, another ex-Steeler but more of an ex-Brown, Harrison said that Burrow “sat down,” then added, “He only did that to break T.J.’s record. Joe Burrow got more hate for the Steelers than he does the Browns. That’s all that was.”
Harrison yells loudly and glares maliciously when he does his podcast. He never stops being a bully.
But Burrow doesn’t hate the Steelers. He’s certainly not jealous of them.
Burrow has played six NFL seasons. His Bengals have won the AFC North twice during that span, same as the Steelers. But Burrow has played in a Super Bowl and two conference championship games. Burrow has won five playoff games in six seasons. The Steelers have won none over the same span.
The Steelers should be jealous of Burrow.
There is no record of any rancor between Burrow and Watt. Nor of any friendship between Burrow and Garrett.
Harrison just likes to hear himself bellow. He’s a mean clown.
Harrison also thinks the whole world revolves around the Steelers, like most of you reading this.
As for ways to discredit Garrett’s record, it’s pointed out that:
• Watt played 15 games when he set the record in 2021. Garrett played 17 this season.
• The season was 16 games when Strahan set the record. Strahan said Garrett holds the 17-game record, but Strahan still holds the 16-game mark. (Strahan didn’t mention him and Favre conspiring to cheat Gastineau.)
• Reggie White had 21 sacks in 1987 while playing just 12 of 16 games.
• Deacon Jones had 26 sacks in 1967 when the NFL played a 14-game schedule. But sacks weren’t an official stat then.
But, again, the record is most sacks in a season. With no disclaimers. It can’t be redefined.
Garrett holds the record.
Garrett is also thought to have had a better career than Watt by every single location in the football universe besides Pittsburgh.
Let’s hope the Steelers beat Houston in Monday night’s wild-card playoff game. Then Watt will tie Garrett with one playoff win.
But wait … Garrett beat Watt in his playoff win. That’s got to be the tiebreaker. Darn it.