When the Los Angeles Rams surrendered a blockbuster package to pull Myles Garrett away from Cleveland, the front office wasn’t looking for incremental defensive help. They were hunting for a dominant, game-altering closer capable of tilting the entire NFC playoff picture.

Following a two-month recovery from knee surgery, Garrett stepped onto the field for his Rams debut in Week 9 against the Washington Commanders. What followed was a strong example of elite pass-rushing efficiency.

Operating on just 37 snaps, Garrett helped altered the course of the game. He collected three sacks, a forced fumble in the red zone, three tackles for loss, and eight QB pressures, spearheading a 20-13 victory that pushed Los Angeles above .500 at 5-4.

Garrett Was Honest About Getting into the Game

Garrett was characteristically blunt about his early-game execution: “Felt rusty as hell in the first half and I had a couple penalties, but I knew I was going to get it back for us.”

He got it back and then some. Paired alongside Aaron Donald on a front line that became a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators, Garrett’s arrival creates an improved dynamic. As Donald noted afterward, Garrett’s presence collapses pockets from opposing angles, creating disruptions where both wrecking balls collapse the quarterback simultaneously, even if only one man earns the official stat line.

Rarely do mid-season blockbuster acquisitions pay such immediate dividends. In-season trades for superstar edge rushers usually require a ramp-up period to learn terminology and rebuild game shape. Garrett skipped that curve entirely, closing out Washington’s final drive with a third-down sack to seal the win.

Garrett Doesn’t Lack Confidence, That’s for Sure

Asked post-game about his ability to step right into high-leverage moments, Garrett didn’t flinch: “I’m not closer. I am that closer. Some people got it, some people don’t… No, I was born with that.”

Before Sunday, Los Angeles was a gritty team scraping by on offensive scheme and defensive effort. Now, with Garrett acting as the tip of the spear, the Rams’ pass rush shifts from a steady unit to an elite postseason menace. The rest of the NFC just received a loud, clear message: Los Angeles has its closer.

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