In Week 17 of the NFL season, the Cleveland Browns beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in a major upset that could have massive playoff ramifications.
The Steelers now pose the risk of losing to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18, which would eliminate them from playoff contention. This loss was a brutal one for the Steelers, and it's largely in part to how they gameplanned around Myles Garrett.
Browns legend Joe Thomas took to Twitter/X to blast the Steelers for their game plan against Garrett. He didn't hold back on the Steelers, as their fear of allowing Garrett to set the sack record led to a crushing loss.
Browns' legend blasts Steelers for Myles Garrett game plan
"Sure seemed like the @steelers were happy to lose the game if it meant keeping @Flash_Garrett (Myles Garrett) from setting the NFL single-season sack record. SMH," Thomas posted after the game.
Thomas was very critical of the Steelers' game plan, which evidently was to run their offense with the major fear of allowing Garrett to break the NFL sack record against them in Week 17.
While the Steelers haven't come out and outright said they planned to avoid Garrett at all costs, the way that the offense ran in Week 17 all but confirms that they were playing with immense fear of a Garrett sack.
This playstyle and game planning led the Steelers to lose this matchup, as a 10-6 loss was one they easily could've overcome if they weren't so scared of Garrett getting home.
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Pittsburgh's offense was completely hindered by Garrett, and not necessarily because he was dominating the Steelers, but from the fear he caused the Steelers to have entering this week.
If the Steelers had already made the playoffs, this wouldn't be nearly as frowned upon. But since the Steelers' loss now opens the door to the team missing the playoffs, with a Week 18 matchup against the Ravens, there's some real concern for Pittsburgh.
Thomas's critique is well deserved, as the Steelers might've ruined their playoff chances due to their fear of Garrett. It was a baffling decision and they've now put all of their eggs into the Week 18 basket.
Thomas was far from the only one calling the Steelers out for this game plan, as many around the NFL questioned the Steelers in Week 17. Time will tell if it was worth it or not, but for now, the Steelers are getting blasted for their Week 17 game plan to avoid Garrett at all costs, to not allow him to break the sack record in Week 17.
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- ‘I’ll be damned': Myles Garrett reacts to the idea of Browns tanking
- Denzel Ward shades Steelers after game-saving coverage
- Myles Garrett held without a sack in upset over Steelers
- Deion Sanders' reaction to Shedeur's terrible interception tells the whole story