CLEVELAND — Dion Dawkins was finally able to get back on the practice field on Friday after missing two in a row because of an untimely bout of the flu ahead of Sunday’s road game against the Cleveland Browns.

The Buffalo Bills’ offensive lineman said it was the worst possible time to get sick because Myles Garrett was this week’s assignment.

Dawkins usually faces Garrett all game when the two teams meet, and Sunday afternoon was no different. But this time, Dawkins was down 14 pounds after not being able to eat for most of the week. He said he was still having trouble keeping food down on Sunday.

“It was the worst week to get sick, bro. But I’m gonna tell you the truth,” Dawkins said. “God does crazy things, right? For me to be, what, 14 pounds less. I was moving 14 miles per hour faster. Every pound is a little bit faster, so it’s a gift and a curse.”

Garrett entered the game just 1.5 sacks away from the NFL’s single-season sack record of 22.5 set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and tied by T.J. Watt in 2021. He was credited with a 1/2 sack on Bills quarterback Josh Allen late in the first half, but otherwise the future Hall of Famer mainly was kept of the stat sheet. He finished with just one tackle in a 23-20 Bills win.

Garrett said after the game that he’s used to being 1-on-1 with Dawkins when facing the Bills but Buffalo changed things up a bit in this matchup.

“Usually they leave Dion on an island and just let him do his thing,” Garrett said. “He has a unique set, unique variety, but the guard was coming down quickly, and then they were throwing the bunch on my side tight so that I had to line up inside. They passed the ball, and I really didn’t have angle to get to an edge.”

Dawkins credited left guard David Edwards for his solid play on the tackle’s left side in helping to mitigate the impact of Garrett throughout the game.

“They threw a bit of peculiarities at me to try to keep me and contain me where they wanted,” Garrett said. “They did a good job.”

The Bills emphasized the importance of quick passes to Allen throughout the game to try and limit how often he was in a situation where he faced pressure. The Browns managed just five quarterback hits in the game. Allen injured his foot late in the second quarter but X-rays were negative and he didn’t miss any plays.

“Our job is to protect 17,” Dawkins said. “I had Myles with me the whole game. So I’m thankful that I’m able to compete. And I’m thankful that Myles is who he is, to make us compete at a high level. I respect that guy.”

Dawkins made sure to let Garrett know during the game what his historic season meant to other great players around the league.

“I’m telling him in the middle of the game that, bro, I’m just proud of you, man,” Dawkins said. “We’re able to experience history in time and I respect the guy.”

The Bills run game was the star of their offensive show on Sunday. Running back James Cook went over 100 yards on the ground in the first half and added two rushing touchdowns to his season total.

How did the Bills attack the Cleveland defense? Cook ran away from Garrett, literally. Cook didn’t have a single carry to the outside left of Buffalo’s formation on any of his 16 carries (Where Garrett lines up).

The Bills passing game struggled in the second half, especially after Allen’s injury limited his mobility. Bills tight end Dawson Knox took responsibility for a dropped touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter that would have put the game out of reach.

Knox credited Dawkins for helping the Bills offense limit Garrett’s playmaking ability.

“That’s a hell of a flu game,” Knox said. “Jeez, Louise. I can’t imagine what that guy does protecting Josh against Myles. Obviously he did a great job, especially coming off the flu.”

Dawkins thinks being lighter in the game actually helped him against Garrett.

“With being sick and not being able to eat, I was lighter,” he said. “So you deal with what you deal with, and go out there and play.”

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NFL Week 17: Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns