Myles Garrett’s Baltimore Ravens warning has double meaning with Cleveland future questioned

The Baltimore Ravens are looking to secure the AFC North title this weekend – but one man is standing in their way.

Led by MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, Baltimore are currently top of their division with an 11-5 record. But the Pittsburgh Steelers, at 10-6, aren’t far behind.

The Ravens are hoping to clinch the AFC North but the Cleveland Browns stand in their wayCredit: GettyThat means there is still business to be done on Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns.

Baltimore will be the No. 3 seed if they beat the Browns and win the division. But if they lose, and Pittsburgh win, the Ravens will go into the playoffs as the No. 5-ranked team instead.

Clinching the No. 3 seed would guarantee at least one home playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium, whereas falling to No. 5 would see Baltimore hit the road.

While the Browns sit bottom of the AFC South with a poor 3-13 record, star defensive end Myles Garrett would love nothing more than damaging the playoff hopes of their rivals.

MORE FROM NFLHeading into Week 18, Garrett is tied with Trey Hendrickson at the top of the NFL leaderboard with 14 sacks.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has generated four consecutive seasons of 14-plus quarterback takedowns, but has never won the sack title.

He would be forgiven, then, for focusing on the individual accolade with nothing left to play for this season.

But ahead of the final game, Garrett sent a warning to the Ravens – he’s out to play spoiler.

“I’d rather upset them and mess up their playoff hopes,” Garrett said, when asked about his priorities in Week 18.

“And if the sack title comes along with that, great. Definitely going to do what I can to be disruptive and take No. 8 (Jackson) out of the game as much as possible.

Garrett is not focused on individual achievements in Week 18Credit: Getty

Instead, he wants to damage Baltimore’s playoff hopes”If that comes along with it, outstanding. But at the end of the day, I want to win.”

Unfortunately, winning has been a problem for Cleveland this season – and Garrett’s message could have a double meaning.

He has previously made his stance clear – he wants the Browns to show him a plan to turn the team into a contender. If not, he’ll want out.

“First of all, I want to win and I want the Browns to be able to put me and us in position to win,” he said back in December.

“And I’m not trying to rebuild. I’m trying to win right now. I want that to be apparent when the season’s over and we have those discussions.”

With the campaign drawing to a close, Garrett has once again repeated that message.

Garrett is one of the premier defensive players in the NFL but could leave the BrownsCredit: GettyA five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, he has played just three postseason games with the Browns.

He still has two more years on his contract from the extension he inked back in 2020, but if Cleveland want to keep their star player in town, they will need to start winning next season.

If they don’t, Garrett will soon start exploring his options. That is, at least, according to Browns beatwriter Mary Kay Cabot.

“He’s going to need to see and know that they are challenging for the playoffs, and they are trying to make it to a Super Bowl. If they can’t say that next year, then he really is going to explore his options,” Cabot recently revealed.

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Garrett’s future will no doubt be a major talking point in the coming months, but right now he is focused on one thing – upsetting the Ravens in Week 18.

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talkSPORT will bring you live coverage across Week 18 with a double header featuring the Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions