CLEVELAND, Ohio – Myles Garrett took a big step on Sunday to cure any lingering bad feelings from the helmet incident.
The defensive point passed to Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph after the Browns won 24-22 to clinch their first playoff game since 2002, shook his hand and complimented him.
“I just told him ‘good game,'” Garrett said. ‘Hell of a game. And we’ll see you next week. ‘
The Browns (11-5) scored a rematch with the Steelers (12-4) in Heinz Field next week.
Rudolph did his best to prevent that from happening. With 1:23 left in the game, he completed a 2-yard attack to JuJu Smith-Schuster to pull the Steelers to within two points. Rudolph’s two-point lead in the final zone for Chase Claypool became incomplete.
Rudolph confirmed what Garrett said during his Zoom call with Steelers reporters.
“That was all it was,” Rudolph said. “I congratulated him, had a lot of respect for him.”
Rudolph, who lost 21-7 in the ‘helmet game’ against the Browns, completed 22-of-39 attempts for 315 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception for a 89.2 rating. He hit big passes of 41, 41 and 47 meters to keep things close.
Unfortunately for the Browns, Ben Roethlisberger will start against them in the game of cards next week. But Garrett’s gesture could eventually lead to an airspace session between him and Rudolph.
Garrett, who was kept without a bag on Sunday, told cleveland.com in September that he wanted to do so, and Rudolph said this week he would be open to hearing what Garrett had to say.
Garrett believes they can make things easier, despite Garrett saying Rudolph calls him the “N” word, which Rudolph denies.
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