'Well, they have Myles Garrett': Browns star key to success against Bengals' Joe Burrow

BEREA − Joe Burrow's record against the Browns is different than anyone else he's faced multiple times. That's because they're the only team the Bengals quarterback has faced more than twice that he's never beaten.

Burrow was asked this week what made the Browns, against whom he's 0-4, different than any other team he's played. The third-year pro was matter-of-fact in his response.

"Well, they have Myles Garrett," Burrow told Cincinnati reporters. "That's different from everybody else."

Forgive the Browns star edge rusher if he's not about to take the bait from the Bengals star quarterback. Much in the same way Garrett wasn't going to let personal feelings allow him to ease up on former college teammate Kyle Allen a week ago in Houston, he's not going to allow Burrow's words to do the same as the Browns head to Cincinnati for Sunday's game.

That's even if Garrett may share similar feelings about Burrow.

"He's trying to butter me up, trying to make me blush," Garrett said Friday. "I mean, it means a lot. It's a great compliment from a great player and I mean the same can be said about himself and his team. I mean once he came along and (receiver) Ja’Marr (Chase) came along, their team has gone in a completely different direction and they're much better for it and that's what it is at the end of the day - your star player versus ours and who can take each other out of the game and the matchup’s been going in our favor but they have some stars over there for sure."

The thing is, there may be a lot of truth behind Burrow's words. The Browns head to the Queen City on Sunday having won five in a row against the Bengals, although one of those five was last year's regular-season finale in which Burrow and many of Cincinnati's starters didn't play.

When Burrow has played, though, there's been two constants. One has been the Browns have won the game, while the other is that Garrett typically lives in the Cincinnati backfield around the quarterback.

Garrett has recorded six career sacks and 11 quarterback hits on Burrow in four games. The last time they met, in Week 8 on Oct. 31 in Cleveland, he had 1.5 sacks and four hits on the Bengals star in a 32-13 Browns win.

"He just presents so many problems to you because he can in at the line of scrimmage," Burrow said of Garrett. "He can win late. He's fast off the ball. He's just so disruptive in everything he does. He's just a great player."

Garrett holds Burrow in a similar regard. Even with the success he has had getting to the quarterback, Burrow has averaged more than 300 yards passing and thrown eight touchdowns in his four games against Cleveland.

That level of greatness, though, is exactly what Garrett believes pushes him to want to have the kind of performances he's had against Burrow. The six sacks he's recorded of the Bengals quarterback are the most of any quarterback he's faced in his career, one more than the five sacks he had over former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

"I don't think it's anything he's done specifically," Garrett said " I think it's just a great player in himself and, I mean, you wanna be able to match that same intensity and exceed it. You wanna be able to put your stamp on the game, and someone who's playing at that level, a team who's playing that well. I mean, he's playing at a MVP caliber. So just be able to say that we got one up on not only him, but them, it's a good feeling."

There may be something schematically to what the Bengals do that assists Garrett in being able to have the kind of performances he's had against them. No edge rusher in the league seems to face as many double teams as Garrett does.

That is, unless the team is the Bengals. Defensive line coach Chris Kiffin indicated Friday that Cincinnati doesn't chip or double-team Garrett nearly as much as other teams.

Garrett agreed with that sentiment, to a point, especially when he lines up against Bengals right tackle La'el Collins. However, he doesn't believe that's the only reason for his success in getting to Burrow.

"I mean I think I'm just able to adjust what they're throwing at me," Garrett said. "I mean, even some of the plays I made last game came off of when there was a chip going my way or those double-teams my way. So just being able to find a way around it. I mean, sometimes it's tougher than others and this last him I was able to do it at a higher clip. Gotta look forward to doing it the same way."

The success Garrett has against Burrow is part of a larger level of success the Browns' defense has had in getting to the 2020 No. 1 overall pick. As a team, the Browns have sacked him 17 times in four games, the most any team has sacked Burrow in his career.

The Steelers have gotten Burrow to the ground 15 times in five career games. The Baltimore Ravens have sacked him 11 times in four games.

"I think our last game was probably our best against him as far as that area goes so we will see what adjustments they make this Sunday," Kiffin said. "Coming out of their building, I think they have said some things about trying to give Myles more attention or whatnot. We will see what they decide to do. Like we said, Myles throughout these games against them has really rose up to the occasion and played his best ball. It is going to take all of the guys this week. I know they will make adjustments. They are fully healthy now. They have their full attack on offense. We have our work cut out for us.”

The five times the Browns sacked Burrow on Halloween is the second consecutive time they sacked him that many times in a game. They also did that to him in their last trip to Cincinnati in Week 9 of last season, a 41-16 Cleveland win.

This time, the Browns go to Cincinnati looking to not only continue their win streak over the Bengals, but also their modest two-game win streak this season. They know a win would keep any playoff dreams alive, while a loss would virtually end that quest.

To that end, the Browns' season may come down to a matchup of former No. 1 picks. Does Garrett yet again make Burrow's life miserable on Sunday, or does Burrow finally get the best of Garrett and the Browns?

"I mean, it’s the same message, same, what they say, same stuff, different day," Garrett said. "So for us, we can't relax or become complacent with what we've done the last three years. We still have a long road ahead of us. Every game's a playoff game for us. We don't have an option but to win. And we have to make that decision up in our mind. And, I mean, just go get it. Like we've said all year, leave nothing in the tank, leave nothing on the table."

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Myles Garrett secret to Browns success against Bengals' Joe Burrow