CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Through the first four games Myles Garrett has been torching offensive linemen and lighting up quarterbacks.
He's also earned a new nickname from defensive coordinator Joe Woods: ‘Flamethrower.’
“That is a new one. I am not even sure what that means,” Garrett said Friday while unable to contain his laughter.
Garrett has been unstoppable this season and the Browns are taking advantage.
“I always try to put Myles in good situations because I feel like if we can get him one on one, I feel like he has a chance to win every time,” Woods said. “Just what he has done over the last few games, it speaks to the level that he is playing at right now.”
Garrett won his first AFC Defensive Player of the Week award after another two-sack performance in a 49-38 win over the Cowboys that also saw him record a strip sack for the third time in as many weeks.
“He’s so talented,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “We are counting on him. He knows that. He has been making plays in all these ballgames, and the offenses are well aware of that, and they are chipping him with the back or chipping him with the tight end and he is still making plays.”
Garrett brushed the honor off like an offensive lineman.
“It is something they should have done already by now,” Garrett said. “But whenever you start picking up traction, just don’t lose it. Now I am just trying to keep the momentum.”
He has his sights on much loftier goals.
“I want to be the greatest,” Garrett, who is tied for the league lead with 5.0 sacks this season, said.
His 35.5 career sacks are the second-most for an active player in their first 41 games in NFL history and ranks sixth in the league since 2017, but in seven fewer games than anyone else in the top-10.
He already ranks fifth in sacks in franchise history.
Every time Woods or Stefanski has hoped No. 95 would make a big play this season, Garrett has delivered.
“I am glad [Woods] has his faith in me, if he is calling on me to make a play,” Garrett said. “I am trying to answer that call every time I go out on the field. Not just down the stretch, it is every time, and it is hard.”
Sunday’s game was Garrett’s 10th multi-sack game on his NFL resume, and he has five games with at least two sacks and a forced fumble, tied for second most in the NFL since his rookie year.
Believe it or not, he’s had better days than that and expects to have more.
“I had nine sacks in high school in one game, if that counts,” Garrett said. “If I do that, then I really hope I get that [AFC Defensive Player of the Week] award.”
