Cleveland Browns franchise player Myles Garrett enjoyed sticking it to Joe Burrow with a convincing 32-13 home win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Monday's AFC North showdown.
Garrett, Sione Takitaki, Deion Jones, Taven Bryan and Isaiah Thomas all collected sacks on Bengals quarterback Burrow, while A.J. Green intercepted one of his passes off a Garrett deflection, and Tommy Togiai recovered the ball when Burrow fumbled.
It was a stat-stuffing performance from the Browns defense, holding the Bengals scoreless through the first three quarters to snap a four-game losing streak.
Garrett said this was a game his team were taking personally, indicating they felt disrespected by preseason comments from the Bengals.
"Heck yeah, we really wanted to get after them," he said. "They definitely had this one circled, as well.
"We all wanted to get after them after what they said about our defense and what they were going to do. We can’t wait to see them again in their house."
On Burrow, Garrett said: "I don't know if it's him saying the sacks are underrated or the wide receivers talking about our defensive backs, but I guess they just light a fire in us and we are able to get after them a little differently.
"Burrow and I are cool off the field, but in between the goal line and me, he is going to have to take that L."
Tallying one and a half sacks, Garrett is now fifth in the NFL with seven and a half for the season, but he said the most enjoyable part of this game was that everybody was getting involved.
"That first tipped pass leading to an interception, and then that sack," he said. "It felt like everyone was like 'the bank is open – everyone grab something'.
"I was rushing to get to the passer to make a big play, but there were a lot of guys playing lights out – it was just beautiful to see.
"[We were] just confident, just liked the matchup. [Burrow] is a great quarterback, and it is difficult to get to him, especially with how quick they get the ball off, but if and when we make him bring the ball down, we are rushing and we are going to get there.
"We had enough time to get there and have an effect on the game."
Garrett went on to talk about how he feels this could be a turning point for the Browns (3-5) as they take their momentum into their bye week.
"I think we have what it takes," he said. "We have taken our lumps, but we will show what we have and our dedication to the game and what it takes to get wins in this league, because they don’t come easily.
"Right now, to get a win like this, and in a dominant fashion, it is showing the guys how good we can really be.
"I don’t want to say perfect – perfect would have been a shutout, but it was damn close. It was a fun one to play in because it felt like everything was clicking all over the field."