It all comes down to this forMyles Garrettand his pursuit ofNFLhistory.
TheCleveland Brownsdefensive end will only have Sunday's game against theCincinnati Bengalsto set the NFL single-season sack record. After getting out to a fast start, Garrett is stuck on 22 after being blanked last week in the penultimate game of the regular season. That leaves him a half-sack behind the mark held by Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt.
Now, his hopes of entering the record book hinge on a takedown of Joe Burrow, whom Garrett has sacked 11 times in his career. That's tied for first with Lamar Jackson in Garrett's career.
Despite his chase coming down to the wire, Garrett isn't concerned about coming up short again.
"My confidence hasn't waivered," Garrett said Friday. "I'm fully confident that it will come."
USA TODAY Sports will have live updates of Garrett's chase on Sunday, so check back here throughout the day for more:
Browns can't find end zone on lengthy drive
After the first half yielded light work for Cleveland's offense, the unit opened the third quarter with a lengthy series.
The Browns melted seven minutes away as they went 56 yards on 12 plays, ultimately settling for a 27-yard Andre Szmyt field goal when a delay-of-game penalty and third-down sack doomed the offense's hopes of reaching the end zone.
Tee Higgins hauls in highlight-reel touchdown just before halftime
With Cincinnati needing a boos, Joe Burrow went to a familiar and proven formula: lofting the ball up to Tee Higgins.
On second-and-10 from the Cleveland 13, Burrow threw a fade to Higgins, who beat his man and hauled in the pass with one hand for the score.
Evan McPherson missed the extra point, leaving the score at 14-12 heading into halftime.
Garrett had a pressure on the drive but remains without a tackle on the day.
TEE HIGGINS WHAT A CATCH.CLEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/UHhmLGeZfk
— NFL (@NFL)January 4, 2026
Garrett getting close, but can he get home?
As is typically the case, Myles Garrett isn't having trouble winning at the line of scrimmage.
Garrett closed in on Burrow for a quarterback hit on a third-and-2 play, but Burrow was able to find Ja'Marr Chase for the first down.
With starting cornerbacks Denzel Ward (neck) and Tyson Campbell (shoulder) both questionable to return, Cleveland could have trouble holding up on the back end and giving Garrett enough time to set the sack record.
Browns score big again on turnover return
The second quarter started the same way it ended for the Browns andBengals.
Noah Fant had the ball punched out by Jerome Baker after a catch, and Browns cornerback Sam Webb scooped up the ball and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to extend the Browns' lead to 14-6.
ANOTHER defensive TD for the Browns!CLEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/eHK7lV9kKs
— NFL (@NFL)January 4, 2026
Myles Garrett makes his mark on a pick-six
Myles Garrett hasn't managed to corral Joe Burrow in the first quarter, but he still came up big for the Browns' defense on a critical play.
Burrow's first-and-goal pass from the Cleveland 7-yard line was tipped, leaving Devin Bush to bring in the interception. The linebacker then ran back the pick 97 yards, with Garrett joining him along the way to help spring a block on running back Chase Brown, who was in hot pursuit.
DEVIN BUSH 97-YARD PICK-6 FOR THE BROWNS!CLEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/TuiEnrZajf
— NFL (@NFL)January 4, 2026
Bengals go up early off Shedeur Sanders fumble
Cincinnati capitalized on a big way after a Shedeur Sanders fumble set the team up in prime position in the first quarter.
The Bengals needed only four plays to go 29 yards, with the drive capped by a 4-yard pass to running back Chase Brown for a touchdown.
Evan McPherson's extra-point attempt was blocked by Alex Wright, leaving Cincinnati with a 6-0 lead.
Burrow to Chase Brown for the@BengalsTD!CLEvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/m18qJZj2JM
— NFL (@NFL)January 4, 2026
Myles Garrett gets an opportunity on Browns' first drive
If the Bengals' first drive is any indication, Myles Garrett shouldn't have a shortage of chances to set the NFL single-season sack record.
Despite opening the game with two rushes, the Bengals gave Garrett a prime window to set the mark on third down. Garrett worked inside and got into the face of Burrow, who tried to avoid the pressure but ended up taking a big hit from Isaiah McGuire.
Cleveland forced a three-and-out.
Will Myles Garrett break NFL sack record against Bengals?
Garrett certainly knows how to corral Burrow given his history of reaching the Bengals gunslinger. But even more important for the defensive end's odds could be the quarterback's approach.
After the Pittsburgh Steelers repeatedly chipped Garrett and reverted to quick-hit throws to neutralize his threat, Burrow said this week that the Bengals wouldn't reconfigure their game plan to avoid ending up on the wrong side of NFL history.
"I'm certainly not going to overcompensate either way," Burrow said. "I'm not going to go out of my way to not let him get the record, and I'm not going to go out of my way to let him get the record either. I'm going to go and play football.
"There's going to be situations that a sack is the best of the bad outcomes of that play, and maybe I take one and there's going to be other situations that I'm about to get sacked and I need to throw it away in that situation. It's such a situational game that I don't think you can go in thinking one way or the other. Every play is so different."
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said that preparing for the Browns necessitates taking a long look at how to prevent Garrett from wrecking a game.
"Our plan has never been any different. You want to limit his effectiveness," Taylor said. "He makes as much of an impact on the game as any player in the NFL. Period. You think about 95 in your head every second of every week you're playing theCleveland Browns. You have to be ready for him."
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
Who holds the NFL single-season sack record?
Michael Strahan first set the mark in 2001, and T.J. Watt later equaled it in 2021. The former set the mark in 16 games, while the latter played 15 games in a 17-game season.
Myles Garrett stats
Sacks: 22
Tackles: 59
Forced fumbles: 3
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Myles Garrett sacks record updates: Stats, highlights on Browns DE
