MYLES GARRETT wants Patrick Mahomes to remember tonight’s AFC Divisional Round clash for all the wrong reasons.
Underdogs Cleveland head to Arrowhead Stadium looking to take down the reigning Super Bowl champions in their own back yard.
Myles Garrett cannot believe it after the Cleveland Browns beat the New York JetsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And after last week’s first road play-off win since 1969, defensive end Garrett sees no reason to stop now.
The Browns were rank outsiders against the Steelers in the Wild Card round too — with coach Kevin Stefanski and two players ruled out due to Covid-19 — but still pulled off a shock 48-37 victory.
Next up is Mahomes and the Chiefs, who are rested after securing a first-round bye as the AFC’s top seed.
Garrett said: “I want him to be able to go home when he has his kid or kids and tell them that he went against Myles Garrett.
LEAVE AN IMPRESSION
“It is not just me versus him, it’s the Browns versus the Chiefs.
“But individually I like to leave an impression on everybody I go against.
“Every time those lights are on and we are on the field, we have to show that we are a great team.
“Here is another opportunity to show that.”
THREE-WEEK ABSENCE
QB Mahomes has not played in three weeks. As the Chiefs had wrapped up the top seed with a game to spare, he sat out their Week 16 clash with the LA Chargers.
But Kansas City coach Andy Reid has a 24-5 record the week after a bye, including play-off games.
Garrett added: “They are one of the best teams in the league, if not the best team in the league, but they have to go in there and they have to prove it.
“And we have to prove that we can battle with anybody.
DANCING WITH A PRETTY GIRL
“We are here. We might as well be great. Nobody is excited about just getting a ticket to the dance.
“You want to dance with the pretty girl. You want to shoot your shot, and the worst she can say is no.”
Meanwhile, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers must make it third time lucky as they take on the Saints in the NFC Divisional Round at the Superdome.
New Orleans are the only team to have defeated Brady twice in this campaign’s regular season.
But Saints coach Sean Payton warned: “When the play-offs come and you’re playing a division opponent like this it’s a whole new season. It’s entirely different.”
FIXTURES: Cleveland at Kansas City, 8.05pm; Tampa Bay at New Orleans, 11.40pm (both games live on Sky Sports NFL).