Steelers Could Benefit From Browns' Myles Garrett Accidentally Admitting He Wants To Be Helpful To Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers have much hatred for any team in the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens are typically the most hated, but also the organization the fan bases and players have the most respect for as both organizations are run pretty well. Then the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns are typically not as successful, but just as fierce, and all four teams have deep hatred for each other. 

However, sometimes you get into a spot where one team can accidentally help out another rival. In this case, the Steelers still have a chance to win the AFC North. If the Browns, who are 20-point underdogs to the Ravens, somehow pulled off a miracle upset and the Steelers beat the Bengals, Pittsburgh would win the division.

It’s not often you see a 20-point spread, but the Browns are starting quarterback Bailey Zappe and have seemingly packed it in. This has given many pundits not much hope for the Steelers winning the North, as they have to beat the red-hot Bengals, and all the Ravens have to do is beat a team they are heavily favored against. Despite the long odds, strange things happen in the NFL every week, and the Steelers' path to a division title isn’t entirely closed.

Interestingly, Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett seems determined to give his all against Baltimore, even if it indirectly benefits Pittsburgh. Garrett has made it clear he wants to disrupt the Ravens' plans and hurt their playoff positioning, regardless of the Browns winning directly hurting their draft spot. While it’s rare for a rival player to be in a spot to help another AFC North team, Garrett’s competitive spirit might just give the Steelers the miracle they need.

"I mean, l'd rather upset them and mess up their playoff hopes," Garrett said. "And if the sack title comes along with that, great. Definitely going to do what I can to be disruptive and take No. 8 [Lamar Jackson] out of the game as much as possible. If that comes along with it, outstanding, but at the end of the day, I want to win."

Garrett has never been shy about letting everyone know how great he thinks he is. This confidence often rubs Steeler Nation the wrong way, especially when Garrett takes shots at TJ Watt and the Steelers organization. 

Both Garrett and Watt are undeniably two of the best players in the NFL, and with that level of talent comes plenty of debate—and trash talk—from Garrett about who truly reigns supreme.

Steelers' Big Rival Now Has A Chance To Help Pittsburgh

Lately, Garrett hasn’t exactly endeared himself to Steelers fans with his relentless chatter. But now, ironically, his dominance could be exactly what Pittsburgh needs to secure an AFC North title. It’s one of those strange twists sports sometimes deliver—where a rival’s best player might just hold the key to your success.

The Browns’ season has been a massive disappointment. They entered the year with high expectations but have fallen far short, experimenting with different quarterbacks and stumbling down the stretch. They no longer resemble the team that upset Pittsburgh in the snow just a few weeks ago. Few are giving Cleveland any chance against Baltimore, but Garrett seems intent on playing spoiler, doing everything he can to slow down Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' offense.

If Garrett can put together a dominant performance and Zappe can somehow overachieve, the Browns might just pull off the unthinkable. It’s a tough spot for the Steelers to be in—relying on a rival for help—especially considering they were in control of the division just a month ago. Now, all they can do is handle their own business and hope Garrett and the Browns do them an unlikely favor. All eyes are now on Garrett and the Browns as Steelers fans hope for a big upset to keep their division title hopes alive.

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