How Myles Garrett nearly tied NFL sack record: Why Mason Graham was credited with Josh Allen takedown

Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett entered Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills in pursuit of the NFL's single-season sack record, needing just one to tie the mark, and he nearly got what he needed in the first half.

Garrett and rookie teammate Mason Graham both pursued Bills QB Josh Allen, chasing Allen back to near his own end zone before the reigning MVP went down for a loss.

While Garrett and Graham were both in pursuit, Graham was credited with the sack — and Garrett, who didn't celebrate, seemed to know immediately that it wasn't his moment. 

Here's a look at the play that nearly gave Garrett a share of the single-season sack record.

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How Myles Garrett nearly tied NFL sack record

Myles Garrett and Mason Graham chased down Allen late in the second quarter on Sunday, forcing a massive 22-yard loss that brought the Bills back to their own one-yard line.

While Garrett was certainly a factor, pressuring Allen, the Bills quarterback appeared to go down on his own as he tried to avoid a safety, and it was Graham who touched him first and received credit.

Mason Graham steals what would've been a record-tying sack from Myles Garrettpic.twitter.com/sguEVdy2VF

Had Garrett gotten in there and touched Allen first after the Bills star went down, he would have received credit for the sack. Here's a closer look at the end of the play:

Rookie Mason Graham touching Josh Allen first to take the record tying sack from Myles Garrett 😂 pic.twitter.com/zxUu8GKBOt

Garrett seemed to know the rules well, as he was satisfied with the play but didn't celebrate like someone who believed he had just tied an NFL record.

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How are sacks recorded?

Because Allen was tackled behind the line of scrimmage — in this case, 22 yards behind the line of scrimmage — the play is a sack, by definition.

While Allen appeared to go down without being touched at the end of the play, whether because he tripped over himself or because he wanted to avoid a safety, the play becomes a sack once a defender touches him. Graham touched Allen first, ensuring the play was dead and receiving credit for the sack.

Had Graham and Garrett both tripped up Allen by touching him, causing him to go down, they would have each received a half-sack. Because it wasn't clear that anyone touched him before he went down and and Graham got in there to touch him first, the rookie received credit for the sack.

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Will Myles Garrett break the sack record?

Myles Garrett is still well-positioned to tie or break the single-season sack record, as he needs just one to tie the mark held by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt and just 1.5 to break the record.

Garrett entered Sunday averaging 1.54 sacks per game this season, and that pace would be good enough to break the record if he can stay on it over the final two games of the Browns' season. 

The Browns close out the season with games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.