According to Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns’ record-breaking amount of injuries from the previous season prevented the team from making its first-ever trip to the Super Bowl.
On Friday, February 9, the current Defensive Player of the Year made an appearance on ESPN’s First Take. Stephen A. Smith questioned him about what might have changed if the Browns’ already remarkable regular-season run hadn’t been hampered by the injuries to so many important players.
I believe there’s no reason we shouldn’t play this Sunday if we stay fit. And, you know, it aches every time I consider the serious injuries we had, including those sustained by [Deshaun Watson], [Nick] Chubb, and others,” Garrett remarked. However, I’m proud of the men that were present. I’m happy of the camaraderie we developed from training camp until the end of the season despite all of the hardships and adversities we faced. The way those guys came together was amazing.
No one ever makes it to the Super Bowl without some luck, whether it’s through an injury or something else. It is still a significant assumption, therefore, that a healthy Browns squad advances through the stacked AFC, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs upset the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens in the title game.
Nevertheless, Cleveland’s resume indicates that the squad would have had a real shot. After winning 33–31 in Baltimore, the Browns and Ravens split the season series. That game, Watson suffered the shoulder injury that would ultimately ruin his season, but he still managed to pass for 213 yards and a touchdown in the win.
In Week 5, the Browns defeated the San Francisco 49ers, who will play as the NFC representative in Las Vegas on Sunday, 19–17, at home. PJ Walker, the backup quarterback, led the team to victory in a contest that Cleveland’s defense mainly won despite Walker’s two interceptions.
Cleveland’s track record, though, suggests that the team would have had a legitimate chance. The Browns and Ravens shared the season series with their 33–31 victory in Baltimore. Despite having the shoulder injury that would end up ruining his season that game, Watson still managed to pass for 213 yards and a touchdown to help the team win.
The San Francisco 49ers, the NFC representative in Las Vegas on Sunday, 19–17, will be hosted by the Browns after they defeated them in Week 5. In a game that Cleveland’s defense won primarily because of Walker’s two interceptions, the squad was guided to victory by backup quarterback PJ Walker.
