Myles Garrett made his feelings on TJ Watt clear Thursday, after his Cleveland Browns side defeated Watt’s Pittsburgh Steelers by a 24-19 score during a snowstorm in Ohio.

They only spoke “at the coin toss,” according to Garrett, as they came face-to-face for one of the first times since Garrett pipped Watt to win the Defensive Player of the Year in February. Rather than congratulate his rival, Watt simply said on social media at the time that it was “nothing I’m not used to.”

Garrett and Watt traded words in media ahead of the game, and Garrett even said: “He’s got to apologize to me when I see him”. In the end, Garrett had the last laugh with a game-wrecking performance in a surprise win over their AFC North rivals, ending with three sacks.

And, speaking after the Browns posted a snow day win over the Steelers, Garrett said on the NFL on Prime broadcast: “We spoke at the coin toss, but that’s about it. I got a lot of respect for him, respect for all the guys over there.”

Garrett then delivered a confident message, making it clear he still sees himself as a superior player to Watt and all fellow pass rushers despite having respect for his rival.

“I’m No.1,” he said. “I’m the guy. There’s no other person as defended as I am. It just goes to show, you can throw out the window, I’m going to find a way.”

Regarding the inclement weather, Garrett called the blizzard a “fun one.” He said: “It brought true football here tonight. It started a couple specks [of snow], but turned into this. You can’t ask for a better playground. It was a physical and tough game. It’s a rivalry for it.”

CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 21: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter in the game at Huntington Bank Field on November 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

The 28-year-old continued: “I just try to be as contagious as I could with the approach I had. Decided to influence my guys to take this serious not matter what our record is, and do the best we can. It took everything. They definitely punched back, made some plays late. We had to continue to find a way. Our guys are just as talented. And we had a bit more in the tank.

Together with the snowstorm, and the late, comeback drama, there was also an equipment malfunction as the communication device in Jameis Winston’s helmet appeared to come unstuck during a sequence in which Pittsburgh’s defensive lineman Cameron Heyward clattered him in the endzone. With the device dangling from his helmet, it didn’t seem to trouble him, as Winston still completed vital passes.

The Browns have a week off before returning with a game at Denver Broncos on December 2.