COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As the winds howled and the Lake Erie skies spat rain, Tyrod Taylor sought shelter from the relentless pressure of T.J. Watt on the afternoon of Sept. 9, 2018 in Cleveland. The Steelers linebacker kept coming for four quarters and deep into overtime, breaking like a wave off the edge of the line and sacking him three times.
Ben Roethlisberger fared no better in trying to elude Myles Garrett’s grasp. The Browns' defensive end registered two sacks and a pair of forced fumbles on a day the Steelers' quarterback turned over the ball four times.
It was a bruising game, one defined by defense and worthy of narration from late NFL Films legend John Facenda. In the end, the Browns might have won in OT if not for Watt partially blocking a 43-yard field goal attempt with nine seconds remaining in the 21-21 tie.
“I’m being the (difference maker) they got from the draft,” said Garrett after a monster game in which he also committed two costly penalties. “I’m finally healthy, and I’m just trying to be the guy who can make the plays when we need them. Great players can take over a game no matter what position they are. It wasn't just me.”
In recent seasons, the story of the Browns-Steelers series has been headlined by two standouts from the 2017 NFL Draft. The menacing presences of Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick, and Watt, the No. 30 selection, have been unmistakable. That won’t change Sunday when the AFC North teams clash again at Heinz Field.
Watt has nine sacks in six appearances against the Browns. In 2017, he became the first rookie in 30 years to record two sacks and an interception in an NFL debut, a 21-18 win over Cleveland.
Garrett has notched four sacks in four appearances versus the Steelers. Last year, in a moment of madness, he clubbed Mason Rudolph over the head with the quarterback’s helmet, sparking a brawl and earning him an indefinite suspension that ended his season on Nov. 14.
As the much-anticipated meeting beckons, these two creators of chaos are in top form. Watt has 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and an interception in helping the Steelers to a 4-0 mark for the first time since 1979. Garrett has six sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 10 quarterback hits in powering the Browns to a 4-1 record — their best start since 1994.
“On any given Sunday, I think Myles and T.J. are one and two in terms of edge rushers, especially with Von Miller being out,” former Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster said.
Two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Long, a former defensive end, believes Garrett is operating at a Defensive Player of the Year level. A season ago, Watt finished third in balloting for that honor.
“(Garrett) is as dominant a base 4-3 end as anyone,” Long wrote in a text message to DK Pittsburgh Sports. “I think too often we throw backers into the same conversation, and as edge rushers there are comparisons to be made. But Myles Garrett can play (left end), (right end) and also rush inside. I’m certain he’s athletic enough to do some of the more basic stuff that an outside backer is asked to do. That, to me, is what makes him so good.”
Garrett, 24, signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension in July. There’s no doubt the Steelers want to lock up Watt, 26, to a long-term deal, as well.
The Browns aren’t completely sure what they have in quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Steelers are squeezing every bit of production from several aging stars. But in Garrett and Watt, the two franchises are secure in knowing they have game changers who will impact the rivalry for years to come.
DRAFT DAZE
Every time Watt delivers a big play, the Steelers' fans should raise a glass to Rod Marinelli.
Three years ago, he served as the Cowboys defensive coordinator at a time when the franchise was looking to add an edge rusher. Marinelli appreciated the skills of Watt, coming off a breakout season at the University of Wisconsin, but didn’t see him as a good fit for the Dallas scheme.
In his defense, there were others around the league who viewed Watt as a “tweener,” a player who has some but not all of the necessary attributes for each of two or more positions.
A source told DK Pittsburgh Sports the Cowboys scouts really liked Watt and thought he would make an ideal pick at No. 28 overall. Instead, the club selected Taco Charlton, a defensive end from the University of Michigan.
Charlton lasted two seasons in Dallas before being released. He spent 2019 with the Dolphins before joining the Chiefs this year.
The Browns, who had three first-round picks, moved up to take tight end David Njoku at No. 29 overall before the Steelers grabbed Watt.
“When you’re throwing away good players because they don’t fit your system, you got to take a hard look at your system,” new Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told reporters at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. “If the guy is a good football player, he can play for me.”
Watt is part of a stout front seven that oozes talent on the interior and the edges. There’s Bud Dupree, Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuitt among others.
But prior to Watt’s arrival, James Harrison led the Steelers in sacks with just five in 2016. The club hadn’t featured a pass rusher with double-digit sacks since 2010.
A return to “Blitzburgh” mentality corresponded with the emergence of Watt, who became the first Steelers defender to amass 13 or more sacks in back-to-back seasons. (Settle down, Steel Curtain fans, the sack was not an official stat until 1982.)
Pittsburgh has either led the league or tied for the league lead in sacks since Watt’s rookie season. The Steelers are tops again with 20 despite playing one fewer game than most teams.
“What I remember from his rookie season is (former Steelers linebacker and assistant coach) Joey Porter saying, ‘They were right in picking T.J.,” said Foster, a DK Pittsburgh Sports contributor.
The Browns have a long and tortured history of first-round decision making. The Steelers possess a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback in part because Cleveland chose to ride with Jeff Garcia in 2004.
In the 2017 draft, Browns upper management was split on how to use the top pick. Though nobody officially acknowledges it, the club thought about selecting quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who grew up in suburban Cleveland.
Luckily for them, common sense prevailed. Garrett has 36.5 sacks in 42 career games, while playing for three defensive coordinators and being surrounded by a revolving cast of teammates and characters.
“What’s even more remarkable about him is that he’s been this good with all the turmoil around him,” wrote Long, the co-founder of Waterboys, a charitable outreach that includes Garrett as a member. “In the past, he’s not been on a team that’s played with the lead very much. Now that the (Browns) offense is locked in, you’ll see his numbers get even better.”
‘GOT TO BE SMART’
Over the past 50 years, Pittsburgh fans have reveled in booing a host of sports villains. There were Jack Tatum and George Atkinson of the Raiders. Vontaze Burfict of the Bengals. Tom Wilson of the Capitals. Barry Bonds after turning his back on the Pirates. Anyone wearing the Flyers’ orange or the Ravens’ purple.
They rarely, however, despised a Cleveland player. The Browns were mostly mocked and pitied. Then, came the final eight seconds of the nationally televised game from FirstEnergy Stadium on Nov. 14, 2019 when Garrett weaponized the helmet of Rudolph:
A burgeoning star became a pariah outside Cleveland and his inner circle. He added fuel to the controversy with claims that Rudolph escalated the conflict by directing a racial slur at him. Rudolph has vehemently denied it on multiple occasions.
In February, Garrett doubled down on his claims in an ill-advised ESPN interview following his reinstatement to the league. He said the Steelers quarterback called him the “N-word.” All hell broke loose.
Several days later, while on assignment for The Athletic, I met with Garrett in Tanzania. He was there on a Waterboys mission to raise awareness and funding to help build deep-bore wells for the people of Africa. He has never backpedaled from his incendiary accusation, but he admitted to making mistakes beyond the inexcusable one on the field.
He never told the Browns of his intentions to grant ESPN the interview, which became a public-relations fiasco for the 2018 Pro Bowler.
“I dropped the ball there,” he said. “I should have told the Browns before I did it. It sprung up in my lap and I thought it was a good chance to talk about Waterboys. I knew they would bring up the incident. I would have my say on it and move on to the next topic.”
Lawrence Garrett called his son after the ESPN interview aired Feb. 15 and told him, “You should have saved that for your autobiography.”
“He was right,” Garrett said of his father. “Have your say some other day. That’s the best way to put it. Got to be smart with what you say and when you say it.”
Garrett has said little of substance concerning the altercation since that time.
Heading into this season, he knew opponents would try to goad him into more blowups. He spent the offseason speaking to a counselor about ways to better channel his emotions. The therapy appears to have helped. In five games, Garrett has been penalized only once for offside, while collecting a league-high 33 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Sunday marks his first game against the Steelers since the helmet-swinging melee. While coaches and players on both sides have spent the week mostly downplaying last year’s fracas, it’s hard to imagine there won’t be a few angry words and shoves exchanged.
Maurkice Pouncey and Browns defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi also were suspended for their roles in the fight. In all, the league disciplined 33 players with fines nearing $750,000.
“We’re not looking for that low-hanging fruit or that reality TV storyline and so forth,” Mike Tomlin said this week. “This is a big game here in 2020."
Foster is among the former and current Steelers who have publicly defended Rudolph. He was on the field that night, and has said his quarterback did not utter the words that Garrett claims.
However, Foster admits to witnessing an evolution in Garrett’s approach.
“As a rookie, you could talk him out of his game a little bit,” Foster said. “Last year, he got a lot of personal fouls in the early part of the season, where he looked like he was trying to prove himself. I remember thinking, he doesn’t need to do all of that ... When that switch finally came on, he was like, ‘I’m Myles F’n Garrett and I just got to play ball.’ That’s where he is right now.”
Steelers
T.J. Watt
BALL HAWKS
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky was emailed three questions about the stellar play of Garrett and Watt. The former NFL quarterback synthesized his thoughts into one detailed response.
“I’d say the biggest deal with both of those guys is the sack is secondary — the ball is primary,” Orlovsky wrote. “They don’t rush the QB, they rush the ball. The angles, bend, swipe, it’s all ball driven. Their timing is like a DB breaking on a football. They’re watching for when the QB is getting ready to throw and they have their own internal clock for how long, on average, they have to get the ball out.”
In the past two seasons, Watt led the NFL with a combined 14 forced fumbles, a total which includes strip sacks. Since the start of 2018, Garrett has nine, including a league-high three this year.
As offensive production skyrockets and offensive holding calls diminish, there’s never been a greater premium placed on turnovers. Sports Illustrated recently reported the last six seasons are the only ones in league history in which fewer than three takeaways per game have been recorded.
Between offensive-friendly rule changes and an increased emphasis on quick throws, it’s becoming tougher for pass rushers to generate strip sacks and force errant throws.
Watt, a first-team All-Pro last season, and Garrett rank among the elite in these categories. Through five weeks, Pro Football Focus has them graded first and third respectively for edge rushers.
“When John Abraham played, I heard him say repeatedly — and I’m paraphrasing here — ‘f--- the sack, I want the ball.’” Long wrote, referencing the former edge rusher. “I see T.J. as a guy who’s able to do both, and that’s not always easy. I think with his background as a space player, he’s really good at having the wherewithal. But also, he’s good at top-down rushes, so although you see him on a QB’s vision side a lot, he finds a way to sneak up ... and come top down and essentially blindside a guy.”
Watt’s career blossomed after the Steelers switched him from the right side to the left side of the formation. He will have a stern test Sunday against free-agent acquisition Jack Conklin, the Browns' new right tackle.
Cleveland ranks fourth in points per game (31.2) and its rebuilt offensive line is a major reason.
Watt won’t win any body-building competitions against the sculpted Garrett, but he gets where he needs to go.
“If you saw T.J. in the store, and you didn’t know who he was, you would think, ‘He probably does a lot of CrossFit and lifts some weights,’” Foster said. “Once he gets on that field, he’s relentless. Never takes a play off. You blink and it’s already too late with him.”
The Browns enter Sunday’s game with one of the league’s most bizarre statistical contrasts. The defense is hemorrhaging points (29.8 per game), but leads the NFL with 12 turnovers.
Garrett’s ability to disrupt quarterbacks is a primary factor. Listed at 6-foot-4, 272 pounds, he’s a pass-rushing Gumby in size-17 cleats.
“His physical ability to bend his body is freakish for a guy his size,” Foster said. “He bends like Von Miller. He’s a monster version of Von Miller.”
The Browns' new defensive coordinator, Joe Woods, is moving Garrett all over the formation, allowing him to attack offenses from different angles.
“I am glad he has his faith in me, if he is calling on me to make a play,” Garrett told reporters last week. “I am trying to answer that call every time I go out on the field.”
Garrett and Watt hail from different parts of the country and opposite ends of the 2017 first-round draft. Each has his own approach and worldview.
Yet both are indispensable parts of their teams. And, nothing figures to change as the Browns-Steelers rivalry goes from simmer to boil.
