Myles Garrett didn't get the one sack to break the NFL season record, but Alex Wright and Grant Delpit were credited with takedowns of Aaron Rodgers. Garrett's menacing presence forced Rodgers to hurry every one of his 39 throws. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Aaron Rodgers won the battle, but Myles Garrett and the Browns won the war.
Without the benefit of one Garrett sack to break the NFL single-season record, the Browns sent the Pittsburgh Steelers reeling to the turnpike with a hurtful, 13-6 stinger. It doesn’t wreck their season but forces them into a winner-take-all finale against the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title and playoff berth.
The Browns (4-12) proved they had more to play for than getting Garrett the record and finishing as high as possible in the draft order. It was about pride and preserving a rivalry that remains alive by virtue of the Browns’ fourth successive win against the Steelers at home and first-ever against Rodgers.
A Pittsburgh win would have clinched its eighth division title in Mike Tomlin’s 19 years as head coach. The Steelers will have to keep their cheap champagne on ice.
“We didn’t want to see no champions hats after the game,” said defensive tackle Shelby Harris. “We took that to heart. So we went out there and we dominated.”
Harris’ deflection of a Rodgers pass on fourth down from the Steelers’ 28 set up Andre Szmyt’s short field goal with 1:40 to play. It was the second turnover on downs for the Steelers. But there was one more to come.
After the ensuing touchback on Szmyt’s kickoff, Rodgers’ heroic DNA kicked in. He crossed the 50 in two plays and had the Steelers at the Browns’ 7 in three more. There were 24 seconds left and the Steelers were out of timeouts.
Garrett said he was thinking, “'It’s not going to be us.' I’ve seen it a thousand times with this guy. I mean, he’s incredible in making it happen, but it’s not going to be us. Just got to make one play at a time, get to fourth down and what happens, happens. But can’t let it be us. We can’t be in his hall of fame run.”
At that point, cornerback Denzel Ward had not been targeted a single time. But for some reason, Rodgers threw at him on the final three plays.
Each was intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling, apparently Rodgers’ go-to guy in the absence of suspended DK Metcalf. Each time, Ward defended the pass in the end zone. He almost intercepted the first one and disrupted Valdes-Scantling vision on the last one on fourth down on a ball out of his reach.
Rodgers said he went after Ward because it was “one-on-one” with Valdes-Scantling.
“I was just surprised they came at me the last three plays of the game,” Ward said. “I don’t think that was a bright idea. But I’m glad they did.”
Rodgers was frustrated all game. As the Browns kept the Pittsburgh running game at bay (131 yards on 24 attempts), the Steelers retreated to a feeble, quick-pass game from mostly empty formations to avoid Garrett’s wrath. It kept Rodgers off the ground but severely stymied the Pittsburgh offense.
Garrett got close to Rodgers a few times and shook his head at Rodgers on more than one occasion. Alex Wright and Grant Delpit registered the only sacks on the 42-year-old quarterback.
“To an extent, I feel they were more worried about keeping me away from Aaron than getting the win, and I think that’s what came back to bite them,” Garrett said.
Rodgers said giving up the record sack to Garrett “wasn’t on my mind.” Tomlin scoffed, “The sack record is irrelevant. We have to minimize him if we want to engineer a victory. We did the same thing last time we played them.”
Rodgers was forced to pass 39 times, completing 21 for only 168 yards, because Shedeur Sanders built a 10-0 lead on his first two possessions. For the second game in a row, the Browns took the ball first and scored.
Sanders was good enough on those two series (5 of 7 for 101 yards and a 28-yard touchdown to Harold Fannin) that he was able to virtually coast – OK, sweat out – his first home victory despite throwing for only 87 yards and two interceptions the rest of the day. A third interception was averted when linebacker Nick Herbig dropped a sure Pick 6.
“I’ve been needing to win at home for a minute, so that’s what’s good. That’s what I’m excited for, that we brought that feeling back in this place,” Sanders said.
The win in the Browns' home finale possibly helped Sanders secure his standing as the starting quarterback going into the 2026 offseason. In victory, the Browns plunged from No. 3 to No. 6 in the draft order behind the Raiders (2-14), Giants (3-13), Jets (3-13), Titans (3-13) and Cardinals (3-13).
With only two quarterbacks expected worthy of top five draft currency, the Browns will either have to invest extra choices to move up or stick with Sanders as their starter in 2026.
“I do not blame the fans for thinking about the future,” said guard Joel Bitonio. “But as players in this locker room, every time you go on the field, it’s a resume. This is a real sport. You have to put your best foot forward when you go there. You have to compete.
“For this team, there are a lot of young guys … These guys are trying to build a culture for the future, and to go out thee and be like ‘we’re going to lose our last couple of games for a better draft pick’ … it would never cross a player’s mind. Maybe the fans want to have some fan-fiction. Maybe upstairs is hoping or something like that, but I know the players and coaches fight for every win.”
Which leaves another question: What did a fourth win in 16 games do for Kevin Stefanski’s future as head coach? The answer may be one week away. Until then, it’s on to Cincinnati.