Are the Cleveland Browns the NFL's most interesting bad team?
Between Shedeur Sanders' elevation to starter and Myles Garrett's chase for the NFL's single-season sack record, there are a few reasons to keep an eye on Cleveland even in a lost season.
For Garrett, the record seemed out of reach not long ago. The former Defensive Player of the Year had only four sacks through the first six games of the season — still a healthy pace of 11 over a full season, but not nearly enough to force any conversations about a record.
After Garrett erupted for 13 sacks in a span of four games, however, he has a more than realistic chance to beat the single-season record of 22.5.
Here's a look at Garrett's updated sack total and season-long pace.
MORE: New Browns QB depth chart with Shedeur Sanders as starter
How many sacks does Myles Garrett have in 2025?
Garrett has 19 sacks through 12 games, putting him on pace for a 27-sack season.
27 sacks would shatter the single-season record of 22.5, so Garrett doesn't have to match his current pace. In fact, he can average less than one sack per game over his final five contests and still break the record.
Garrett once had only five sacks through seven games, but he doubled his season total with five against the New England Patriots in Week 8. After sacking Justin Fields once in Week 10, Garrett took down Lamar Jackson four times in Week 11 and Geno Smith three times in a Week 12 win.
In Week 13, Garrett moved one step closer to the record with a sack of Brock Purdy.
Here are the teams Garrett will be going up against as he closes in on the record.
MORE: What did Shedeur Sanders and Kevin Stefanski say after Week 12 win?
Browns remaining schedule
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Dec. 7 | vs. Titans | 1 p.m. |
| Dec. 14 | at Bears | 1 p.m. |
| Dec. 21 | vs. Bills | 1 p.m. |
| Dec. 28 | vs. Steelers | 1 p.m. |
| Jan. 4 | at Bengals | TBD |
The Browns' remaining schedule includes the Tennessee Titans, who have allowed more sacks per game than any other team this season.
Who has the most sacks in a season in NFL history?
Michael Strahan (2001) and T.J. Watt (2021) share the single-season sack record of 22.5.
Strahan's record is shrouded in some controversy, as some believe Brett Favre went down easily to give Strahan the record in the 2001 season finale. Watt matched the mark in a 17-game 2021 season but only played 15 games, making his total that much more remarkable.
MORE: Full Shedeur Sanders stats, highlights from Week 12 win over Raiders
NFL single-season sack leaders
Here is a look at every player to officially record 20 sacks in a season:
| Player | Sacks | Season |
| Michael Strahan | 22.5 | 2001 |
| T.J. Watt | 22.5 | 2021 |
| Mark Gastineau | 22.0 | 1984 |
| Jared Allen | 22.0 | 2011 |
| Justin Houston | 22.0 | 2014 |
| Reggie White | 21.0 | 1987 |
| Chris Doleman | 21.0 | 1989 |
| Lawrence Taylor | 20.5 | 1986 |
| J.J. Watt | 20.5 | 2012 |
| J.J. Watt | 20.5 | 2014 |
| Aaron Donald | 20.5 | 2018 |
| Derrick Thomas | 20.0 | 1990 |
| DeMarcus Ware | 20.0 | 2008 |
T-1. Michael Strahan, 22.5 (2001)
Strahan's record-setting sack is the subject of some controversy after Brett Favre appeared to slide down without much of a fight when touched by Strahan, but the 2001 season was a dominant one for the New York Giants star. Strahan recorded three games with at least three sacks, including a four-sack display against the Rams, and he had only three games without a sack.
T-1. T.J. Watt, 22.5 (2001)
J.J. Watt has two 20-sack seasons, but his brother, T.J., holds a share of the single-season record. The Pittsburgh Steelers star pulled within striking distance of the record with an explosive four-sack performance against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, and he tacked on the sack he needed against the Baltimore Ravens in the regular season finale. Watt reached 22.5 sacks despite missing two games in 2021.
T-3. Mark Gastineau, 22.0 (1984)
Mark Gastineau's 10-year career with the New York Jets was highlighted by a 22-sack campaign in 1984 on the heels of 19 sacks in 1983. Gastineau recorded a sack in all but three of his games, including a four-sack performance against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 to get the season started. More recently, Gastineau found himself in the news for confronting Favre over the quarterback's actions on the sack that allowed Strahan to break the record in 2001.
T-3. Jared Allen, 22.0 (2011)
Hall of Fame pass-rusher Jared Allen was a sack master in Kansas City in Minnesota, and he peaked with 22 sacks in 2011. Allen's career year included 3.5 sacks in Week 17, so he didn't enter the season finale with serious hopes of matching or breaking the record, but he came much closer than most imagined he would.
T-3. Justin Houston, 22.0 (2014)
From a third-round pick in 2011 to an All-Pro in 2014, Justin Houston doubled his career-high with a whopping 22 sacks in his fourth NFL season. Like Allen, Houston did much of his work in the season finale, recording four sacks to jump from 18 to 22, but he only had three games without a sack in 2014.