For the fourth time in his career, DE Myles Garrett will face off against QB Patrick Mahomes as the Browns host the Chiefs in Week 15 at Huntington Bank Field.
Throughout their football careers, the two have been linked. Garrett and Mahomes never played each other in high school but grew up just over a two-hour drive apart from each other in western Texas. Despite both attending college in Texas, Garrett at Texas A&M and Mahomes at Texas Tech, they still never faced off until they made it to the NFL. In 2017, both were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft, Garrett with the first overall pick and Mahomes with the 10th overall pick.
In the eight ensuing seasons, both athletes have added a litany of accomplishments to their resumes. In Week 15, Garrett will have a chance to add another. With 99.5 sacks, Garrett looks to become just the 64th player in league history to reach 100 sacks.
"I think it's special regardless of who it's against," Garrett said when asked if it would mean more if his 100th sack came against Mahomes. "He's definitely one of the very best that we've ever seen, especially at that position. So, I mean it'd be nice to get that one and hopefully I can take the ball from him on the play and don't have to get it from him after."
While he'll be happy to get to 100 sacks, Garrett is looking to climb further up the all-time sack list.
Former Bills DE Bruce Smith holds the NFL record with 200 career sacks across his 18-year career. If Garrett ends this season, his eighth in the NFL, with 100 sacks, he would be on track for 225 career sacks if he played the same number of seasons as Smith.
"I feel like I have a lot of time to speed up the numbers that I have now, the rate that I'm at now," Garrett said. "So, I just look at it as a challenge. There's some guys ahead of me and I want to pass up everybody at the end of the day."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Kansas City Chiefs at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Director of High Performance Shaun Huls during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelen Gill (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Tight end Tre' McKitty (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 12, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Kicker Riley Patterson (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on December 11, 2024.
His next sack won't be an easy task. Mahomes' pocket presence and ability to escape the pass rush is rare among quarterbacks and is a major reason behind his three Super Bowl titles.
Garrett, however, has had success against Mahomes in the past. Garrett has sacked Mahomes in each of their three NFL career matchups.
"He's always more elusive than you give him credit for," Garrett said. "He has very good balance, you know, he doesn't go down easily and even when he does, his eyes are always looking downfield. He's always looking to make that next play."
If the Browns are to win in Week 15, preventing Mahomes from making big plays will be key. The best way to do that, Garrett thinks, will be at the line of scrimmage.
Beyond sacking Mahomes, Garrett noted one facet of the game that he's noticed Mahomes struggle with in the past.
"We just have to continue to rush him and bat balls down," Garrett said. "That's the only thing that really gets to him, is when balls get batted down early and often. So, I that's where we can really try to shake him."
While Garrett is motivated to earn a win over the Chiefs in Week 15, he noted the disappointment he feels towards the 3-10 record the Browns hold this season.
As a team captain and vocal leader in the locker room, Garrett said he's emphasized the importance of the Browns' remaining four games, no matter their record.
"Just try to break it down to them as much and as often as possible," Garrett said on the message he is giving to younger players. "This is your resume. Everybody's going to be looking at this, from your family to this team to everyone across the NFL. There's no guarantee that you'll be here for your entire career, but teams will look at this film and they'll use this to define you for the rest of your time in the league. So, never take a snap for granted. Never take a second for granted."
