20 - 18

(Jan 4, 2026 · Week 18)

Playoff trips and No. 1 draft picks weren’t up for grabs during Week 18’s Ohio-sized showdown between Cleveland and Cincinnati, but the head-to-head remained unquestionably “must-watch” for one reason: Myles Garrett’s pursuit of pass-rushing immortality. For 24 seasons, any interior defender who dared call themselves “elite” took chase of the NFL’s then-single-season sack record (22.5) — sitting at 22.0 at kickoff, Garrett entered Jan. 4, 2026 with one-of-a-kind opportunities. For 55 minutes, the Bengals’ barricades held steady before floodgates finally opened on Garrett’s clutch takedown. Understandably, the Ohio crowd — and Browns teammates — took moments to admire the fittingly-Canton-bound defender’s milestone, poetically carrying him in celebration. Ultimately stamping the performance with a 20-18 win, the soon-to-be-named Defensive Player of the Year closed with a sack, two QB hits, and three pressures.

Read more