Joe Burrow makes unsurprising but strong admission about Browns’ Myles Garrett ahead of Cleveland’s Week 1 game against Cincinnati

The Cleveland Browns have played pretty well against the Cincinnati Bengals since Joe Burrow entered the league. Burrow is just 3-5 against the Browns as a starter, despite often playing well enough to win. The two teams will square off right out of the gates this season, and it should be a good one in Northeast Ohio.

When the Browns have found success against the Bengals, it has often been because of their defensive line. Myles Garrett and company have consistently gotten the better of Cincinnati’s offensive line over the last few years, and that remains Cleveland’s best path to victory on Sunday. Burrow knows all too well how disruptive Garrett can be.

Joe Burrow gets honest about Myles Garrett ahead of the season opener

“He can win the game if you let him,” Burrow said earlier this week. “You have to, No. 1, game plan around him. No. 2, as a quarterback, you have to be aware of where he’s at all times with protection IDs, and also know where your quick answer is in whatever concept you have called—because sometimes he’s back there before you can even catch the ball, basically, and you have to get it out.

“We play great rushers a lot. He’s one of the best, if not the best. But in this division, you play guys like that a lot, so we’ll have a good plan for him. He’s going to make plays, and when he does, you just have to hold onto the ball and not make a bad play worse.”

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Garrett has 28 tackles and 13 sacks in 12 career games against Cincinnati. The former Defensive Player of the Year has recorded a sack in eight of his last nine meetings with the Bengals, including four multi-sack performances. Burrow essentially admitting that Garrett is Cincinnati’s biggest concern should come as no surprise.

Cleveland signed Garrett to a four-year extension worth $40 million per season this offseason. He has posted at least 14 sacks in four straight years and has finished with double-digit sacks in seven straight seasons, dating back to his rookie year when he tallied seven. Once again last season, he was among the league’s most dominant defenders, though the Browns’ 3-14 record kept him from winning his second DPOY award.

Expect the Bengals to give Garrett the star treatment on Sunday with plenty of chips and double-teams. Still, he’s likely to have an impact. When Garrett doesn’t get home, the Browns will need Isaiah McGuire, Mason Graham, Alex Wright, and Maliek Collins to step up. Burrow clearly has a ton of respect for Garrett—and that feeling is likely mutual.

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