Browns DE Myles Garrett says Chiefs were ‘more composed, more capable’ team in Week 1
An absolute dogfight through the first three quarters, the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2021 home opener was a game for the ages. The Cleveland Browns played a competitive game in hostile territory, looking every bit of the threat some predicted they would be this season with their electric offense and stout defense, but were unable to hold off Patrick Mahomes’ to close out the win.
Noticeably frustrated in his postgame press conference after the loss, Cleveland’s star defensive end Myles Garrett had high praise for Kansas City, especially their quarterback and all-pro receiver Tyreek Hill.
“I don’t want to take away from the greatness of those two players,” Garrett started, speaking of the late-game heroics of Mahomes and Hill. “But he was under duress. He threw it up and it wasn’t a good ball. But, those guys make plays like that.”
He continued, noting that highlight-reel plays in crucial situations are what the Mahomes-Hill connection has always thrived on.
“Those two are known for doing things like that,” Garrett said, “We just have to make those plays when they are up in the air like that. It’s a 50-50 ball, we got to take that next time.”
Asked what his biggest takeaway from the game was, Garrett told reporters what seemed to be a bitter truth for him and the Browns to make peace with.
“We let off the gas,” Garrett explained. “We didn’t execute. Down the stretch they were the more composed, more capable team. They didn’t have a lot of penalties and didn’t beat themselves. We didn’t execute like we were supposed to on offense and on defense and they took advantage of that.”
Wins against Kansas City have been few and far between for Chiefs’ opponents in recent years, with the Browns having their own particular struggles following their loss to the team in last year’s divisional playoff round. Cleveland left no doubt that they’ll be back in contention at the top of the AFC, but based on Garrett’s comments, it seems Mahomes and the Chiefs are in a league of their own.
Kansas City will face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on the road in Baltimore in Week 2, and will look to build on their momentum from the home opener to move to 2-0 to start their season.
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