Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett were non-factors at the worst possible time
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.
Cleveland Browns edge rush Myles Garrett and Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons are two of the best players in the NFL. They are dominant, game-changing forces on defense that both have a strong argument to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year this season.
They were also both complete no-shows and non-factors in their team’s biggest games of the season on Super Wild Card Weekend.
Between the two of them, they combined for just five tackles, zero sacks, zero tackles for loss, zero pass defenses, zero forced fumbles and only one quarterback hit. All while their two teams combined to give up 93 points (45 for Garrett’s Browns and 48 for Parsons’ Cowboys).
It was a staggering lack of production on the same weekend for two players that helped carry their respective defenses all season. From a big picture perspective it should not change much about the perception of either player, nor will it impact their status in the defensive player of the year race since voting has already been completed. They are still great and one game does not define a player.
But it is also fair to point out that playoff performance is what gets attention, and it will be a long offseason for both players to forget about the way they went out.
That is especially true for Garrett who, for all of his dominance, recorded just a single sack over the Browns’ final seven games. He also had five games during that stretch where he did not even record a hit on an opposing quarterback.
Prior to that stretch he had 13 sacks in 10 games and recorded at least one quarterback hit in every single game.
Both teams were top-five defenses in terms of yards allowed this season, while Dallas was also in the top-five in points against. Nobody is going to remember that now.
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