Tag: Myles Garrett

Browns DL Myles Garrett, DB Rodney McLeod combine for amazing special teams TD vs. Eagles

The Cleveland #Browns scored a touchdown when star DL Myles Garrett blocked a kick in their Week 6 matchup against the Philadelphia #Eagles.

The Cleveland Browns got a major boost from star defensive lineman Myles Garrett and veteran safety Rodney McLeod on Sunday when they faced the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6.

Late in the second quarter, Philadelphia attempted a 57-yard field goal that would have extended their lead to 10 points before halftime.

Garrett managed to block the kick, and McLeod recovered the live ball and returned it for a rare special teams touchdown.

When Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins nailed the extra point attempt after McLeod’s score, Cleveland drew even with the Eagles.

Check out this clip of the outstanding effort by Garrett and McLeod, which was posted to Twitter by the Browns’ official account:

 

Though Cleveland was ultimately defeated by Philadelphia in the second half, this incredible play was a bright spot for Cleveland in the loss and is sure to go down as one of the most exciting moments of Week 6.

Myles Garrett keeps Browns alive with superhuman effort on blocked FG

Myles Garrett keeps the Browns in the game.

Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett made an incredible game-changing play at the end of the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles were attempting to extend their 10-3 lead before the half with a last-second field goal attempt by kicker Jake Elliott. The 57-yard field goal was blocked immediately by the Browns star and scooped up by safety Rodney McLeod Jr for a special teams touchdown.

 

Bubba Ventrone’s special teams have performed very well in the first half, especially after this game-turning touchdown. Garrett had been absent for most of the matchup in Philadelphia until his blocked field goal and has made his return noticeable.

The Browns now have their momentum as they kick off the second half in a tie game. The defense has stood strong for the most part and will have to continue to limit the big plays by the Eagles offense and quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Watch: Commanders LG Nick Allegretti destroy Browns star Myles Garrett

Browns star Myles Garrett didn’t even register a tackle against the Commanders in Week 5.

The key to a Washington Commanders’ victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 was to stop, or at least slow down edge rusher Myles Garrett. The Commanders could not allow Garrett anywhere near star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Mission accomplished.

Not only did the Commanders dominate the Browns in a 34-13 win, but Garrett was held without a tackle in Sunday’s game. Garrett, arguably the NFL’s best defensive player, did not even register a statistic. And it’s not like Garrett didn’t play; he was on the field for 78% of the Browns’ defensive snaps.

Garrett worked against Washington left tackles Cornelius Lucas and Brandon Coleman, who continue to split time at that position. But on one play, Lucas received some help from left guard Nick Allegretti.

In his latest episode of “In the Trenches,” former NFL offensive lineman AQ Shipley highlights Allegretti’s physicality on this hit to Garrett in pass protection.

Garrett was the toughest matchup Washington’s offensive line has faced this season. And like in the previous four weeks, the Commanders’ O-Line won the battle in the trenches

Before the season, many believed the offensive line would be Washington’s Achilles’ heel, but so far, it’s a team strength.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. will not back down from Myles Garrett

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. embraces challenge of facing Browns DE Myles Garrett.

On Thursday, it looked questionable that Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. would play in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns. He had missed two consecutive practices with a knee injury.

However, head coach Dan Quinn said Friday that Robinson was “trending” in a positive direction, something Robinson alluded to on his personal X account.

If Robinson plays, there’s a good chance he’ll go head-to-head with Browns star edge rusher Myles Garrett at some point on Sunday. Robinson takes pride in pass protection, so he will not back down if he meets Garrett.

” I attack, it really don’t matter,” Robinson said. “I don’t see names, I don’t see colors. I just see jersey numbers and I just attack. When I see him in a hole, it’s me and him. May the best man win on that rep…..it may be him, it may be me. And we may meet several times and it’s going to be the same every time.”

Some may look at this as Robinson taking a shot or challenging Garrett, which he’s clearly not doing. He was asked a question, which he answered. What did you expect him to say? Robinson is known for his physical style of play, and win or lose; he’ll give Garrett or any pass rusher his best shot if he comes after Jayden Daniels.

4 keys to Commanders’ victory vs. Browns

We identify four keys to a Commanders’ win over the Browns in Week 5.

The Washington Commanders (3-1) return home to Northwest Stadium in Week 5 to host the Cleveland Browns (1-3). The Commanders have won three straight games, and this will be only their second home game.

Cleveland has lost two consecutive games to the Giants and Raiders and is desperate for a win on Sunday. So far this season, the Browns have not resembled a playoff team, which they were in 2023.

However, despite its slow start, Cleveland remains a talented team led by DE Myles Garrett, the NFL’s top defensive player.

Sunday’s game is only the second time the Commanders have been favored so far this season. What must they do to avoid an upset loss on Sunday?

We identify four keys to a Washington win in Week 5 vs. Cleveland:

Get to Deshaun Watson early

When the Commanders faced Watson in 2022, he completed only nine of 18 passing attempts, but he did throw three touchdowns and did not turn the ball over. That cannot happen on Sunday. Watson is a shell of the player he was in 2018 when he first faced Washington. However, if the Commanders allow him to get comfortable early in the game and gain confidence, they could be in trouble.

Washington was aggressive in defending Kyler Murray last week and must adopt a similar strategy against the Browns. Cleveland’s offensive line has struggled early this season.

Make the Browns one-dimensional

This goes hand in hand with getting to Watson. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt’s primary goal should be stopping the run. Cleveland isn’t a dangerous running team right now, and Nick Chubb is not quite ready for his 2024 debut. That’s positive news for the Commanders. Jerome Ford is Cleveland’s top running back and he’s averaging four yards per attempt this season. Washington has allowed opposing offenses to gash them in the running game so far. If that happens against Cleveland, this game will come down to the wire, something the Commanders hope to avoid. At some point, Washington must prove it can stop the run.

Have a plan for Myles Garrett

This is what every team that plays the Browns says. The Commanders have quietly been excellent in pass protection through four weeks. They have yet to face a challenge like Garrett. Garrett already has four sacks this season and will be looking to make life difficult for Jayden Daniels. Cleveland’s key to limiting Daniels relies heavily on Garrett wrecking Washington’s offensive line.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has had a specific plan all season to help limit the opposing pass rush, and you can bet he’ll have a plan on Sunday. However, it’s not going to be easy. Garrett is a rare, game-changing talent that can singlehandedly force turnovers and give the offense short fields.

Stay aggressive offensively

The Commanders will have Austin Ekeler back, and Brian Robinson Jr. sounds like he’ll be ready, too. That means Washington’s rushing offense will be back to normal. The Commanders have turned up the aggression over the past two weeks and must continue to do so. On one drive last week, the Commanders kept the Arizona defense on the field without allowing them to substitute, running several plays out of the same formation. It was a coaching masterpiece, and Daniels executed it flawlessly. That type of creativity and aggressiveness should remain until teams can slow them down.

Commanders vs. Browns: 3 reasons for optimism

Here are three reasons for optimism as the Commanders host the Browns in Week 5.

The Washington Commanders host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and look to extend, or at least hold on to, their status at the top of the NFC East. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has led this team to a 3-1 record and has displayed poise and confidence typically reserved for veteran players.

The Browns are, well, the Browns. They’re 1-3 this season with Deshaun Watson under center and hope to get star running back Nick Chubb back from a knee injury sooner than later.

While it seems the Commanders should have things well in hand, there’s always that little seed of doubt that creeps in, so let’s peek at three reasons for optimism heading into this Week 5 matchup.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Jayden Daniels is the quarterback

This may be pointing out the snake that bites you, but seriously, Jayden Daniels’ ability to lead this team and perform consistently at this level has been unmatched. He acclimated to this league like he knew what to expect and was prepared to make the necessary changes.

All of that work is paying off now, as he’s leading a team that hasn’t had a winning season in eight years. The Commanders need one more win to tie the number of wins they had in all of 2023, and it’s likely they will earn that against Cleveland on Sunday.

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Austin Ekeler returned to practice

After spending the previous seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, Austin Ekeler joined the Commanders as a free agent this year. A dynamic back, his addition was a huge improvement to the Commanders’ offense. Unfortunately, Ekeler suffered a concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals team in Week 3. He missed the outing against the Arizona Cardinals last week but returned to practice on Thursday.

Returning to practice is a good indication that Ekeler is ready to return, especially since he practiced in full. When he returns to the field, opposing teams will be hard-pressed to stop the Ekeler/Daniels combination.

Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Myles Garrett has an injury

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is by far the biggest threat the Browns’ defense has to offer. He is notorious for being everywhere on the field, causing chaos, sacking quarterbacks, and stopping the run. However, Garrett is hampered by an Achilles’ injury, which bodes well for the Commanders’ offense.

Now, no one wants to see a player get hurt, this is their livelihood. But if he doesn’t play, the Commanders’ offense will have more luck getting down the field. Even if he does play, the injury could slow him down enough to lessen his impact.

Commanders injury report: Several players did not practice

A long injury list for the Commanders and Browns to kick off the week.

The first injury report of the week is out for Sunday’s game between the Washington Commanders and Cleveland Browns, and it’s lengthy.

Before we jump into the complete injury report, there was some positive news for Washington Wednesday, as running back Austin Ekeler returned to practice on a limited basis. Ekeler told reporters afterward that he had to clear one more hurdle before he’s cleared for a Week 5 return.

Now, for the injury report: We told you it was a long one — for both teams:

Did not participate: G Nick Allegretti (ankle), TE Zach Ertz (NIR/rest), DE Clelin Ferrell (knee), LB Dominique Hampton (illness), S Tyler Owens (shin), RB Brian Robinson Jr. (knee)

Limited participants: WR Noah Brown (groin), S Percy Butler (groin), RB Austin Ekeler (concussion), DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot)

Full participant: CB Emmanuel Forbes (thumb), S Quan Martin (shoulder), LB Jordan Magee (knee), DL Efe Obada (tibia, fibula), QB Marcus Mariota (pectoral)

Here is Cleveland’s Wednesday injury report:

Did not participate: OT Jack Conklin (hamstring), DE Myles Garrett (Achilles), LB Jordan Hicks (ribs, elbow, triceps), CB Greg Newsome (NIR/personal), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (illness), C Ethan Pocic (ankle), OT Jedrick Wills (knee), DE Alex Wright (triceps)

Limited participants: RB Nick Chubb (knee), G Michael Dunn (illness), RB Nyheim Hines (knee), OT James Hudson (shoulder), OT Dawand Jones (knee), TE David Njoku (ankle), RB Pierre Strong (hamstring)

Full participant: CB Martin Emerson (concussion protocol), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), LB Jeremiah Owosu-Koramoah

Gimme him: One player the Commanders would steal from the Browns

There’s one player the Commanders would steal from the Browns to improve their team.

The Washington Commanders are off to a fabulous start to the 2024 season. Jayden Daniels is proving to be more than anyone thought he would be in his rookie season, and he’s helped lead the team to a 3-1 start and take an early lead in the NFC East.

[lawrence-related id=103215,103198,103192]

No team is perfect, though; there’s always room for improvement. This week, the Commanders host the Cleveland Browns, and there is one player the Commanders would steal from the Browns: defensive end Myles Garrett.

Garrett gets a lot of heat for his boisterous personality and aggressive play on the field. He has an “I don’t care” attitude and will run through linemen to get to the ball. Which is exactly what this Commanders defense needs.

Now in his eighth season, all with the Browns, Garrett has recorded 314 tackles (219 solo), 92.5 sacks, 19 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 16 passes defensed, and 38.5 stuffs for 65 yards. He’s only played a handful of full seasons, missing games in most seasons due to injury or suspension, and he still has these ridiculous stats.

Garrett doesn’t just put stats on the board; he’s also a veteran in the NFL and a leader on his defense. He may have a history of bad behavior toward other teams, but he’s been a loyal member of the Cleveland Browns and is one of the biggest reasons its defense has success.

3 causes for concern as the Raiders face the Browns Sunday

The biggest causes of concern for the Raiders in their Week 4 matchup with the Browns on Sunday.

I know what you’re thinking right now. What about this Raiders team *isn’t* a cause for concern right now? That’s fair. But I suppose some things are more glaring than others. Here are three big ones that come to mind.

Myles Garrett

Antonio Pierce was asked for his thoughts on Myles Garrett and he summed it up with one word – “Scary”. Garrett is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and for good reason. He was in the top ten in sacks (14), tackles for loss (17), and QB hits (30), and pressures (86). Now, you can argue Maxx Crosby was better considering Crosby had better numbers in every one of those categories, but that’s not really the point here.

The point is Garrett is a problem. And the Raiders offensive tackles have not exactly shown the ability to keep even decent pass rushers out of the backfield this season. Even Kolton Miller has been uncharacteristically susceptible to getting beaten. And rookie DJ Glaze will be making his first start on the other side.

Stars injured

No question the Raiders have exactly two stars on their team. Maxx Crosby on defense and Davante Adams on offense. Neither of whom will play Sunday. Crosby is officially listed as Doubtful by Antonio Pierce said Friday Crosby would be OUT. Adams suffered a hamstring injury in practice this week and he’s been ruled OUT.

Even with Crosby playing last week, the defense gave up 36 points because Crosby was hobbled and not destroying the offense’s game plan. Now, to be without him entirely? Yikes.

The only game the Raiders won this season was when Adams was caught nine passes for 110 yards and had some masterful late game heroics. He won’t be an option in the pass game this week.

League worst ground game

Despite Raiders OC Luke Getsy’s laughable comment that the Raiders run game showed some improvement last week, it hasn’t. Their 2.8 rushing yards per attempt is easily the worst in the league. 

And get this, they are ALSO the worst run DEFENSE in the league, giving up a league worst 5.4 yards per carry.

The Browns are decent both in terms of yards per carry on the offense (4.3) and yards per carry allowed by the defense (4.4). Both stats are above league average.

Also see: 3 Reasons for optimism for Raiders vs Browns

3 key matchups for Raiders vs Browns

3 key matchups for Raiders vs Browns

With all the injuries, it can be tough to keep up with who is playing and who is not. But let’s try. Here are some key matchups that figure to play a role in who comes out victorious in this week’s tilt between the Raiders and Browns.

Kolton Miller vs Myles Garrett

The biggest star taking the field in this game is lining up at edge rusher for the Browns. Garrett the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He has averaged over 15 sacks per season the past three seasons and already has two this season.

Meanwhile Kolton Miller has looked probably the worst he’s ever looked in Luke Getsy’s new zone blocking scheme. He has already surrendered five sacks this season along with several run stuffs as well. This could get messy if the Raiders aren’t careful.

Jakorian Bennett vs Amari Cooper

Coop is coming off a career-best season in which he put up 1250 yards receiving while averaging 17.4 yards per catch. It earned him his first trip to the Pro Bowl since 2019. Bennett has played pretty well this season and this could be his toughest test yet.

Tyree Wilson vs Dawand Jones

It’s backup vs backup. Who will show they belong? Wilson will be asked to pick up the slack with Maxx Crosby not expected to play. And Jones will be stepping in for the injured Jack Conklin.

Jones started nine games last season and has started the first three this season as well. He has surrendered two sacks in the first three games after giving up three sacks last season. Wilson has 3.5 career sacks, all last season.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson has been terrible this season, but if he has time to throw or room to run around, he can carve up the Raiders. Wilson’s one job will be the keep that from happening.