LAS VEGAS — Against one of the worst offensive lines in the league on Sunday, the Browns’ defensive line smelled blood in the water.
“It was like piranhas,” said rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham. “Trying to get it. Trying to get a part of it.”
By the end of Cleveland’s 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, eight different rushers had sacked quarterback Geno Smith 10 times.
The Browns defense was just one away from the 11.0 sacks that’s a single game record for the franchise. They also registered 20 total quarterback hits. They did all that without No. 2 edge rusher Alex Wright (quad) even available.
“We live for moments like that,” Garrett said. “I’m so proud of how they rushed and us putting together a historic day for us.”
It was a performance so dominant, that the Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly in the hours after the game ended.
And to get there, they took advantage of a prime opportunity.
Coming into this week Smith had been sacked 31 times this season (the fourth-worst mark in the league) for 214 yards.
The Browns were led up front by Myles Garrett, who turned in a three-sack performance. It was his fourth multi-sack game of the season and third in the last four games. He has 14 sacks in the last five games.
Garrett’s season total is now at 18.0, a new franchise record. He’s still on pace to demolish the NFL single-season record with six games left to play.
He broke the old franchise record, 16.0, which he set in 2021 and tied in 2022, when he sacked Smith with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter for his 17th sack of the season.
But it wasn’t just about Garrett.
Veteran DT Maliek Collins had a 2.5-sack game, a single-game career-best mark, and now also has a career-best 6.5 sacks for the year.
For Collins, individual production is all about the unique chemistry the group has developed.
“We find each other when we’re not holding up our end of the bargain,” he said. “So if you’re not out there rushing and racing to the quarterback, then it looks like crazy. It’d be crazy if Myles breaks the sack record and then we’re not all in there somewhere, you know.”
In addition to Garrett and Collins, Devin Bush, Isaiah McGuire and Cam Thomas each had one sack. Jerome Baker, Mike Hall Jr. and Shelby Harris all registered half a sack.
Harris, who has been in Cleveland for three seasons and since coordinator Jim Schwartz arrived with his attack-first scheme, echoed Collins’ sentiments about chemistry.
“Everybody’s clicking at the same time,” he said. “I think that’s what you see the difference is. It’s not necessarily people are better than people that were here before. I just truly believe that when it comes to pass rush, sometimes styles have to work together in order for it to work. And now you’re getting the perfect amount of power, speed, finesse, and it’s just all coming together.”
While the performance of the line is always going to be highlighted by Garrett, the production from so many different players up and down that line highlighted why exactly he’s on such a historic pace.
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Cleveland Browns Defense vs. Las Vegas Raiders, November 23, 2025
He still will get double and triple teamed, and plenty of chip blocks.
But interior pressure and pressure from the other side still helps put opposing QBs right where Garrett wants them, to the point that he’s making it look like child’s play during this record-breaking streak.
And of course, he an appreciate how contagious getting after the quarterback can be.
“When it’s going like that, it’s like why not?” Garrett said. “I had one (sack) at the half and I was like, ‘shoot, we’re going to get some more opportunities.’ Let’s just keep going, see how far we can take it. ... We’ve got to do what we do, earn the right still. But guys really displayed how good they are with their craft and how hard they’ve been working.”
Like piranhas, everyone on the line got their bite on Sunday.
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