Browns' Myles Garrett's historic sack pace collides with Brock Purdy in dangerous Cleveland trap game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns are feeling as good as you can as a 3-8 team. They defeated the Las Vegas Raiders on the road in Shedeur Sanders' first start, and sacked Geno Smith 10 times in the process.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMyles Garrett was responsible for three of those sacks, making his season total climb to 18 in 11 games. With six games remaining, he is on pace to shatter the single-season sack record of 22.5 sacks held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. And considering the winter weather is starting to take full-effect in Cleveland, this could spell trouble for a San Francisco 49ers team that has been hobbled by injuries.
The likes of Fred Warner and Nick Bosa are done for the year, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk still isn't ready to go after an ACL injury last season. Quarterback Brock Purdy has also dealt with injuries this year. He's played in just four games this season, throwing eight touchdowns to seven interceptions.
Three of those interceptions came against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12. And while the 49ers came away with a win, there is a real question on if Purdy should be the guy or if Mac Jones should return as the starter.
On top of the interceptions, Purdy has been pressured on 36 percent of his dropbacks, per NextGenStats - the same percentage as... Geno Smith. If the Browns have anywhere near the success they had against Smith and the Raiders, they could win their second consecutive game, and remain mathematically alive in the AFC North.
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