CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – There’s little question last week’s loss at Pittsburgh stung.
Defensive end Myles Garrett was clear Friday – what’s done is done and all eyes are on their trip to Cincinnati where the 1-4-1 Bengals await Sunday afternoon at Paul Brown Stadium.
“We do not want to let one [loss] turn into two, as has historically been done over here,” Garrett said referencing the lengthy losing streaks the Browns had become accustomed to since 1999. “We are trying to change the standard and the culture, and that starts by going out there and starting the streak again.”
The loss ended a four-game win streak, which matched the longest for the franchise in the expansion era.
While quarterback Baker Mayfield lamented earlier this week that 4-2 felt like 0-6, Garrett, who was part of the Browns’ infamous 0-16 campaign as a rookie, hasn’t had a problem putting the loss behind him or appreciating the best start to a season since 2001..
“I feel like 4-2 is 4-2, no matter how you see it,” Garrett said. “It is one loss. We will see them again, and we will see the other AFC opponent again. We will have a chance to get revenge and avenge those losses.”
Garrett recorded his seventh sack in six games against the Steelers but he wasn’t able to create a turnover or turn momentum at Pittsburgh like he was able to against the Bengals, Washington Football Team, Cowboys and Colts.
“I feel responsible for my team winning or losing every time,” Garrett said. “I know I am out there to make big plays, and that is what I look forward to doing every time I get the chance to. It is on all of us, but I feel a little bit more pressure on myself to make those.”
Garrett, who strip-sacked Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow in Week 2, is anxious to get after the rookie and No. 1 overall pick once again Sunday.
“I am always trying to have a big game,” Garrett said. “Just because I had a more quiet game than usual last week does not mean I am going to kind pack it in. Like, ‘Oh, you know. This is what happens.’ I feel like I have to turn it on every time I get on the field, not just after a big win or a big loss. When I get out there, I am going to try to impact the game as best as I can.”
Although he’s moved on from last Sunday, which was expected to be a defining game for the Browns as they hope to ascend to a legitimate contender in the AFC North, Garrett is looking forward to the Ravens and Steelers visit to FirstEnergy Stadium later in the season.
“They both have gotten one over on us,” Garett said. “Again, we get to see them again, and we get to see them at our house. I feel like just like they got one over on us, we can do the same thing, and we can even it up and have a good chance at the end of the year to extend our season.”
