Week 6 of the season saw the Pittsburgh Steelers beat their AFC North division rival, the Cleveland Browns, by a score of 23-9. It wasn't a perfect game for the home team, but they did enough to improve their season record to an impressive 4-1, with a solid lead in the division standings.
Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett appears to count this as his Super Bowl, but he didn't live up to the hysteria that he caused around this matchup.
Garrett talked a lot of smack heading into this game, but when it started, he was almost nonexistent. You can give the Steelers' offensive line credit, but the Browns' star pass rusher didn't have a great outing. He only had two tackles on the day and no sacks. His infatuation with trying to prove his worth over T.J. Watt is troubling, but that is a two-way street between them.
Both he and Watt have always competed to determine who is the better defensive player, but this past weekend, Watt emerged as the victor. Garrett doesn't have much to look forward to in terms of winning games since he plays for the Browns. He requested a trade this past offseason just to re-sign with a monster contract. He got his money, so he can't complain now.
Pittsburgh Steelers forced Myles Garrett into a sad state after another division loss
Things have only gone from bad to worse in Cleveland as they remain on track to become one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. It’s nothing new for Garrett during his time with the Browns, and constant losing can take a toll on any player. Cleveland hasn't beaten the Steelers in Pittsburgh during the regular season since 2003. The Browns' star pass rusher is tired of losing.
"To lose the same way every time, it's frustrating as hell," Garrett said in a post-game news conference.
READ MORE: Steelers leave rest of AFC North in the dust after Week 6 action
After getting a two-score lead in Week 6, it appeared that the Steelers' score was too much for the Browns to overcome. Pittsburgh limited some of its starters in the fourth quarter, and it made Garrett wish he were in their position. He would love to be on a team with a comfortable lead—where pass rushers have the freedom to relentlessly attack. His comments burned with envy.
“Must be nice,” said Garrett in regard to watching the Steelers' pass rushers get after the quarterback with a two-score lead.
It’s clear that Garrett wants to be part of the solution in Cleveland, but he also knows the Browns are unlikely to reach a Super Bowl before he retires, barring a miracle. They haven't been good since they got rid of Baker Mayfield, and time is starting to tick on Garrett's career. His jealousy of the Steelers is evident as he just wants Cleveland to be more like Pittsburgh.
His sole reliance on helping his team win football games is more evident than any of those he faced on Sunday. Pittsburgh has plenty of star talent across its roster, which eases the pressure on Watt and other defensive standouts. Having no offense is something the Steelers defense can sympathize with. But they didn’t have to worry about that this season like they did during last year’s debacle.