The Cleveland Browns’ season has fallen far short of what fans and the team expected. With a 2-7 record and only eight games remaining, their playoff chances are virtually nonexistent. However, Myles Garrett hasn’t given up hope, even though Dillon Gabriel’s offense hasn’t quite clicked.
Garrett is having another dream season. In the 32-13 Week 8 loss to the New England Patriots alone, the star pass rusher recorded five sacks.
Last week, against the New York Jets, Garrett added another, bringing his total to 11 and tying him for the league lead with New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns.
However, personal achievements mean little to Garrett. “The main thing,” he recently stated, “is winning.” If they do, their postseason hopes remain alive.
Garrett has his sights set on the playoffs
Amid the team’s current slump, Garrett has made two things very clear: personal records are secondary, and he wants to lead his team to the playoffs.
“So all things come to fruition, and if some of my personal goals happen, that’s great, but I want to go and continue to play after January. That’s the biggest goal,” Garrett recently told Browns Zone.
Garrett was very clear in saying:
“There’s no checking out. There’s no looking for somewhere to hide or surrendering. We still have a great opportunity to push ourselves in the playoffs if we do what we need to do.”
With eight games still on the schedule and the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) hanging by a thread for the AFC North lead, Garrett hasn’t given up hope.
“There’s a great possibility, with how things have gone in the division, that we could still be in this race, but you have to believe it,” he emphasized.
Gabriel’s offense will have to cooperate
However, Garrett’s energy and leadership might not be enough. The defense relies entirely on him, and the offense hasn’t found its rhythm, neither with veteran Joe Flacco nor rookie Dillon Gabriel.
The Browns’ passing offense is the second-worst in the NFL, with just 1,684 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Their rushing attack is also the fifth-worst, with only 874 yards and six touchdowns.
Calls for Gabriel’s dismissal and a chance for backup Shedeur Sanders are growing louder. However, the Browns’ problem is structural, and neither Gabriel, Sanders, nor Garrett are the answer.
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