CLEVELAND — For those wondering where Myles Garrett has been so far in the 2021 season, you have your answer. Garrett more than answered the bell in the Cleveland Browns’ 26-6 mauling of the Bears on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium as the Pro Bowl defensive end played the best game of his four-plus year career.
From the opening series to the end of the game, Garrett played with his motor revving hot as he spoiled the NFL starting debut of quarterback Justin Fields, sacking him four and a half times. In total, the Browns’ defense decked Fields a team record nine times. Who could blame Fields if he didn’t at least once wish he had stayed in Columbus? He would’ve played Akron yesterday instead of a unit that resembled the 1985 Bears’ defense, which proved the easiest way to win a Super Bowl is to dominate your opponents defensively.
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This version of Myles Garrett was the one the Browns drafted with the first overall pick in 2017. This is the Myles Garrett who can single handedly take over a football game. And this is the Myles Garrett the Browns must have if they are to reach their goal of winning an AFC North title and beyond.
Garrett’s four and a half sacks could have easily been six or more. He was getting home all day and the frustration on Fields’ face was in large part due to Garrett beating the Bears offensive lineman over and over and over again.
The numbers are almost mind-numbing. The Bears allowed more sacks (nine) than they had points (six) or even first downs (six). The Browns’ defense held the Bears to just 47 total yards on 42 plays. Eleven times the Bears faced 3rd down. They converted once. This Bears offense will never be confused for the KC Chiefs, but they came in 1-1 and scored 20 in beating the Bengals last week.
I know, Fields was making his first start. But honestly, this train wreck didn’t happen because Fields was the conductor. Most of the sacks were on the offensive line who had no answers for the Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney pass rush combo. This is just a taste of how good this Browns’ defense can be.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah showed flashes of why the Browns feel they may have landed the steal of the 2021 Draft when they called his name with the 52nd overall pick. JOK can play, and we saw that throughout the game as he was all over the field and all around the ball. Owusu-Koramoah was the Browns’ second-leading tackler behind Garrett, registering four total tackles, three solos and getting credit for a half sack. While the defense ruled the day for the Browns, no one is ready just yet to forget the troubles that plagued them through the first two games. However, this was a real start and will provide a nice building block for Joe Woods and Browns defense moving forward.
Offensively, the Browns used the familiar formula that is fast becoming their trademark. The one-two punch of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt continue to be too much for opposing defenses to bottle up for any length of time. Whether it’s Chubb’s bruising style with speed sprinkled in, or Hunt slithering through holes or doing damage off the screen, if they remain healthy they will be the NFL’s most productive backfield. Hunt was the workhorse on this day providing 81 rushing yards on just 10 carries to go along with his 74 receiving yards on six catches.
The balance of the Browns’ offense against the Bears could provide a blueprint moving forward. Chubb was the leading rusher with 84 yards on 22 carries. Mix in Hunt’s 16 touches and the five catches for Odell Beckham Jr. for a team leading 77 receiving yards in his 2021 debut and you’re getting very close to the perfect mix needed to keep defenses off guard and the sticks moving. Beckham also had one rush for 10 yards. In all, Beckham’s return has to be considered a big success, and if the offense can continue to get similar production from OBJ moving forward, it’s likely the duo of Chubb and Hunt will benefit from the added attention from opposing defenses.
Baker Mayfield was less accurate in the win over the Bears, but after a shaky start came together to play a solid, turnover-free game. Seven seconds into the game, Mayfield had as many incompletions vs. the Bears as he had in the entire game last week against the Texans. Starting just 1-5, Mayfield finished 19-31 for 246 yards and one touchdown pass. He added an impressive 31 yards on four timely rushes, but his five sacks provided the most concerning facet of the week three win. That’s the area of cleanup the Browns can focus on as the schedule turns to week four. Cleveland will travel to Minnesota to play a Vikings team coming off their first win, an impressive 30-17 win against the Seahawks in Minneapolis.
DAWG BITES
- IT’S BEEN A MINUTE: The Browns improve to 2-1 on the season, winning back-to-back home games to begin a season for the first time since the 1979-80 season.
- HOME SWEET HOME: In 10 home games under Kevin Stefanski, the Browns are 8-2.
- ABOUT TIME: The win was the first Browns victory against an NFC North opponent since they defeated the Vikings on Sept. 22, 2013.
- CLICKING OFFENSE: The Browns 86 points throughout the first three weeks of the season are the most since the 2002 team put up 90 points within the first three games. The Browns’ 1,230 total net yards through the first three weeks this season are the most in club history. The Browns have scored at least 26 points in each of their first three games for the first time since 1964.
- SUFFOCATING DEFENSE: The Bears one net passing yard are the lowest-ever recorded by a Browns opponent. The Bears total net yards of 47 are also the lowest-ever by a Browns opponent.
- BAKER’S EFFICIENCY: Mayfield has had four straight games with a 95+ passer rating. That is the second longest such streak in team history.