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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Zeglinski

NFL Week 7 Awards: Myles Garrett’s greatness is being wasted on the Browns

Myles Garrett NFL Browns (Organization) Tyson Bagent Bijan Robinson Jonathan Allen Justin Fields Drake London Deshaun Watson Lamar Jackson

Let’s make this simple. The Cleveland Browns are beyond fortunate they have a human magnet of goodwill and sheer power in the form of Myles Garrett. The prolific defensive end is at the hallowed point in his career where he seemingly controls the line of scrimmage with minimal effort, even though it’s readily apparent he’s just that dominant. He is a game-wrecker of the highest order.

Take his performance against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday as a perfect example. Garrett recorded nine tackles, two sacks, and two quarterback hits. Oh, and he even blocked a field goal by jumping over the blocking guard before Indianapolis kicker Matt Gay even had a chance to make contact with the ball.

This is beyond exceptional:

Better yet, look at how easily Garrett rips through the right side of the Indianapolis offensive for a sack fumble below. Once again, this is not normal athleticism for a man at Garrett’s listed height and weight of 6-foot-4, 271 pounds:

With the Browns’ elite defense carrying Cleveland to a 4-2 record, we are witnessing Garrett finally leaping to a true national platform. He’s long been one of the NFL’s more elite defenders since entering the league in 2017, but the Browns have mostly … stunk. Now that they resemble a playoff-adjacent team buoyed by its defense, it will be hard to argue against the four-time Pro Bowler earning his first career Defensive Player of the Year Award in the coming months. This is Garrett’s glorious moment, and he deserves every bit of the limelight.

But there’s still something that irks me, at least and only in favor of Garrett.

This Browns team should be ready to win and compete now. But I have doubts that if Cleveland sneaks into the playoffs, it’ll be able to make any noise. That’s because the Browns have no consistently good quarterback play. Deshaun Watson, once accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women in what the NFL would characterize as “predatory behavior,” is a financial albatross. When healthy, Watson is one of the league’s most inept passers. He almost singlehandedly drags down the ceiling of what Garrett’s accomplishments can achieve for the Browns. They have no legitimate chance of upending any of the AFC heavyweights with an efficient and ineffective signal caller like Watson. (If they ever turn to P.J. Walker, well, let’s be frank: he’s a backup for a reason, folks.)

And that’s just a real shame for someone as gifted as Garrett.

We are witnesses to him becoming another all-time defender right in front of our eyes. He deserves a real run at it — meaning, a shot at a championship — and he deserves a quarterback who can match his brilliance to get there. Maybe someday he’ll get one.

Elsewhere in Week 7 in the NFL, Lamar Jackson showed us why he has his slippery, magical reputation in the pocket. Meanwhile, Drake London literally went upside down in one of the week’s wackier plays and aftermaths. Also, I wouldn’t want to get on Jonathan Allen’s nerves tonight after what his Washington team just endured.

Let’s hand out some awards and wrap this chaotic Sunday up.

Best way to finish a block: Ronnie Stanley, when he drove Kerby Joseph through the end zone

The Baltimore Ravens laid an absolute beatdown on the Detroit Lions on Sunday. There’s no feasible way of sugarcoating a 38-6 win where Baltimore held a 28-0 halftime lead. But there is a great way of summarizing it — with this monster block by left tackle Ronnie Stanley to start the Ravens’ scoring.

Kerby Joseph never had a chance here:

Best slipperiness in the pocket: Lamar Jackson on this dazzling touchdown

We know Lamar Jackson is one of the NFL’s more elusive and dynamic talents, regardless of position. He gave us a great reminder on this touchdown pass where he almost created 10 seconds for himself to throw the ball.

Folks, in case it wasn’t clear, we are not worthy:

Worst way of keeping fans informed about a star player: The Falcons with Bijan Robinson's absence

A lot of people were hoping to see some great plays by Bijan Robinson against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. You know, because he’s a special talent accustomed to turning something out of nothing any time he touches the ball.

But for some reason, the Atlanta Falcons didn’t let us know Robinson would be ill for the matchup. Hmm, something seems fishy here:

Worst substitute Hail Mary: Nathan Peterman, after taking over for the Bears' Tyson Bagent

Tyson Bagent threw his first career touchdown pass on Sunday in a 30-12 win for the Chicago Bears. But he didn’t stay on the field for a late first-half Hail Mary because he doesn’t have the requisite arm strength to throw one.

Uh, Peterman didn’t fare much better:

Best support of a teammate who plays the same position: Justin Fields with Tyson Bagent

There was a lot of talk that Bagent could theoretically take Fields’ job starting quarterback position. (Because that’s just what the Chicago sphere does.) But it didn’t appear that Fields was remotely worried about that. He was just happy for his teammate succeeding:

Best effort on a non-touchdown: Drake London after going airborne AND upside down

Drake London just wanted to go all out to score a touchdown. He almost took it far when he literally landed on his head after trying to avoid Antoine Winfield Jr.:

Worst pass interference call with the game on the line: Officials during Browns-Colts

The Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts gave it their all in an instant classic 39-38 win for Cleveland. But the Browns potentially never get a chance to ice the game if not for this awful pass interference call on Indy’s Darrell Baker Jr., where the ball was clearly uncatchable:

Best way to shut down a QB controversy: Rob Gronkowski, by roasting the Raiders

There is no Bears quarterback controversy between Justin Fields and Tyson Bagent, according to Rob Gronkowski. Why? He doesn’t think Bagent deserves THAT much credit for beating the atrocious Raiders:

More from Gronkowski on the NFL on Fox:

“The Raiders are the Raiders right now. They’re one of the worst teams in the NFL. I’m just telling the truth.”

Worst loss by a massive favorite: The Bills, after blowing it to the rival Patriots

The current woeful iteration of the New England Patriots should have no business upending the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen. Yet, that’s exactly what they did on Sunday.

More from our Prince Grimes on a devastating spin for the betting market:

But this isn’t a sign of the Patriots being fixed, rather that Buffalo might actually be broken. It’s the Bills’ second loss in their last three games and very easily could’ve been their third straight loss if the refs didn’t bail them out at the end of their win over the New York Giants last week. Their own offense is averaging fewer than 20 points over the last three games after averaging 39 over the previous three games. Buffalo is 0-3 against the spread in that span and increasingly looks like a team bettors should avoid.

Best fiery rant describing a dumpster fire team: Jonathan Allen, after another Commanders' loss

Jonathan Allen is one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles, but he’s largely seen nothing but losing during his seven seasons with the Washington Commanders. After losing to the New York Giants on Sunday, Allen was fed up:

Best TV graphic: CBS, by showing how Taylor Swift has impacted Travis Kelce's play

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, a.k.a. “Swelce” are probably the NFL’s hottest item right now. And with the global music superstar attending most of the future Hall of Fame tight end’s games, CBS broke out a delightful graphic about how Kelce has performed better with Swift in attendance:

Best redemption of an infamous penalty: The Packers on a new "Fail Mary" ... for the other team!

The Green Bay Packers weren’t able to escape Denver with a win. But the refs sure seemed to gift them a touchdown anyway — at least, according to Gene Steratore. The “Prevail Mary” is finally a thing:

Worst path to an ejection: Arizona's D.J. Humphries after accidentally hitting a ref in the head

The Arizona Cardinals surprisingly gave the Seattle Seahawks a good fight in a 20-10 defeat. But plays like this from left tackle D.J. Humphries, where he got himself ejected for inadvertently hitting a ref, sunk their best efforts:

Best inventive way to defend a receiver: J.C. Jackson by literally holding Stefon Diggs' hand

It’s hard enough to actually cover Stefon Diggs. Now imagine winning a one-on-one jump ball with him. That’s what J.C. Jackson accomplished when he … held Diggs’ hand. I’m not sure it’s a replicable strategy:

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