This cleveland browns vs bengals match player stats report covers the January 4, 2026 season finale at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cleveland Browns beat the Cincinnati Bengals 20-18 on a 49-yard Andre Szmyt field goal as time expired.
Cleveland entered at 4-12 and closed the year at 5-12, while Cincinnati fell to 6-11 after entering at 6-10. Both teams played out the string with no playoff stakes, but the game carried individual and franchise storylines. Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett set the NFL single-season sack record during the fourth quarter.
Cincinnati played without a full head coaching commitment beyond the season from Kevin Stefanski, whose future in Cleveland remained undecided after the final whistle. Cleveland’s defense scored twice, and a last-minute field goal decided the outcome after Cincinnati took a late lead.
Match Overview
| Date | Venue | Competition | Final Score | Records |
| January 4, 2026 | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | NFL Week 18 | Browns 20, Bengals 18 | CLE 5-12, CIN 6-11 |
Pre-Match Context
Cleveland arrived in Cincinnati off a 13-6 win over Pittsburgh in its home finale, its most emotional result of the season. The Browns started three different quarterbacks in 2025, and Shedeur Sanders took the field again after a 2-4 start as the primary passer.
Cincinnati arrived on a two-game winning streak, blowing out Miami and Arizona by 20 or more points in each of the previous two weeks. Joe Burrow had missed nine games earlier in the season with a turf toe injury before returning to lead the Bengals offense.
Cleveland’s Denzel Ward left the first half with a neck injury, and center Luke Wypler exited in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Cincinnati cornerback DJ Turner came out in the fourth quarter with a calf injury. Both defenses played without full health by the final whistle, shaping late-game execution on both sides.
Quarter by Quarter Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Cleveland Browns | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
Quarter by Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Cincinnati struck first on a four-play, 29-yard drive. Joe Burrow found running back Chase Brown for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 7:59 remaining. Evan McPherson’s extra point was blocked, leaving Cincinnati ahead 6-0. Cleveland answered late in the quarter when Burrow’s pass intended for Tee Higgins was intercepted by Devin Bush at the Cleveland 3-yard line.
Bush returned it 97 yards for a touchdown, and Szmyt’s extra point put Cleveland ahead 7-6 with 56 seconds left in the quarter.
Second Quarter
Cleveland extended its lead early in the quarter on a defensive score. Burrow’s completion to Noah Fant was followed by a Jerome Baker forced fumble, and Sam Webb returned the loose ball 47 yards for a touchdown. Szmyt’s extra point made it 14-6 with 14:06 left.
Cincinnati answered with a nine-play, 79-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to Tee Higgins. McPherson missed the extra point wide right, and Cleveland led 14-12 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Cleveland controlled the only scoring of the quarter. The Browns drove 56 yards over 12 plays, converting a fourth-and-1 along the way. Andre Szmyt kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8:05 left in the quarter, extending Cleveland’s lead to 17-12. Cincinnati’s only drive of the quarter ended in a punt after nine plays.
Fourth Quarter
Myles Garrett recorded his 23rd sack of the season on Burrow with 4:09 remaining, breaking the NFL single-season sack record. Cincinnati regained the lead on the ensuing possession, driving 61 yards in seven plays. Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:29 left, and a two-point conversion attempt to Mike Gesicki failed, leaving Cincinnati ahead 18-17.
Cleveland took over at its own 29 with 1:23 remaining. Isaiah Bond and Jerry Jeudy each caught key third-down passes from Shedeur Sanders to move the ball into range. Szmyt kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired for the 20-18 final.
Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Browns | Bengals |
| Total Net Yards | 200 | 364 |
| Total Plays | 52 | 66 |
| 1st Downs | 11 | 24 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of Possession | 24:26 | 35:34 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
These numbers show a lopsided statistical night that Cleveland overcame with turnovers and special teams execution.
- Cincinnati out-gained Cleveland 364 to 200 in total net yards.
- Cincinnati held the ball for 35:34 against Cleveland’s 24:26.
- Cleveland scored two non-offensive touchdowns off a pick-six and a fumble return.
- Cincinnati committed two turnovers to Cleveland’s one, including a red-zone interception.
- Cincinnati missed both extra-point attempts, a two-point margin that mattered in a two-point loss.
Full Box Score – Cleveland Browns
Shedeur Sanders completed 11 of 22 passes for 111 yards without a touchdown or interception, absorbing six sacks. Dylan Sampson led Cleveland’s ground game with 32 yards on 10 carries.
Jerry Jeudy led all Browns receivers in targets with six, catching two passes for 17 yards. Cleveland’s defense produced the headline performances, with Devin Bush and Sam Webb each scoring touchdowns and Myles Garrett recording the record-setting sack.
Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Shedeur Sanders | 11/22 | 111 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Dylan Sampson | 10 | 32 | 3.2 | 0 |
| Raheim Sanders | 5 | 26 | 5.2 | 0 |
| Shedeur Sanders | 3 | 26 | 8.7 | 0 |
| Malachi Corley | 3 | 18 | 6.0 | 0 |
| Trayveon Williams | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 |
| Jerry Jeudy | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Bond | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Jerry Jeudy | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Malachi Corley | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 0 |
| Dylan Sampson | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 0 |
| Cedric Tillman | 1 | 23 | 23.0 | 0 |
| Trayveon Williams | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Bond | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 0 |
| Raheim Sanders | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 |
| Brenden Bates | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | FG (made/att) | XP (made/att) | Total Points |
| Andre Szmyt | 2/2 | 2/2 | 8 |
Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Trayveon Williams (Kickoff) | 3 | 73 | 24.3 |
| Gage Larvadain (Punt) | 2 | 6 | 3.0 |
Defense (Top 8 by Tackles)
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play |
| Devin Bush | 8 | 0.0 | 97-yd INT TD |
| Grant Delpit | 10 | 1.0 | – |
| Ronnie Hickman | 8 | 0.0 | – |
| Dangelo Ross | 6 | 0.0 | – |
| Sam Webb | 4 | 0.0 | 47-yd fumble return TD |
| Cameron Thomas | 3 | 0.0 | – |
| Rayshawn Jenkins | 5 | 0.0 | – |
| Myles Garrett | 1 | 1.0 | Record-setting sack |
Full Box Score – Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow completed 29 of 39 passes for 236 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Chase Brown ran for 72 yards on 13 carries, passing 1,000 rushing yards for the season, and also caught a touchdown pass. Ja’Marr Chase caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets.
Tee Higgins added six catches for 67 yards and a score. Evan McPherson missed both extra-point attempts, a costly special teams lapse in a two-point loss.
Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Joe Burrow | 29/39 | 236 | 3 | 1 |
Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Chase Brown | 13 | 72 | 5.5 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | 8 | 42 | 5.3 | 0 |
| Joe Burrow | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Ke’Shawn Williams | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 |
| Joe Flacco | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Ja’Marr Chase | 8 | 96 | 12.0 | 1 |
| Tee Higgins | 6 | 67 | 11.2 | 1 |
| Chase Brown | 4 | 18 | 4.5 | 1 |
| Drew Sample | 3 | 17 | 5.7 | 0 |
| Mike Gesicki | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 0 |
| Samaje Perine | 3 | 10 | 3.3 | 0 |
| Andrei Iosivas | 2 | 10 | 5.0 | 0 |
| Noah Fant | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | FG (made/att) | XP (made/att) | Total Points |
| Evan McPherson | 0/0 | 0/2 | 0 |
Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Ke’Shawn Williams (Kickoff) | 4 | 99 | 24.8 |
| Ke’Shawn Williams (Punt) | 3 | 13 | 4.3 |
Defense (Top 8 by Tackles)
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play |
| Daxton Hill | 4 | 0.0 | – |
| Cameron Sample | 6 | 2.0 | – |
| B.J. Hill | 8 | 1.0 | – |
| Jordan Battle | 3 | 0.0 | – |
| Myles Murphy | 5 | 0.0 | – |
| Demetrius Knight Jr. | 3 | 1.0 | – |
| Barrett Carter | 5 | 0.0 | – |
| Tedarrell Slaton | 5 | 1.0 | – |
Game Leaders / Top Performers
Devin Bush turned a Burrow red-zone pass into a 97-yard pick-six, the longest defensive score of the game and a swing play in the first quarter. Sam Webb followed with a 47-yard fumble return touchdown in the second quarter, giving Cleveland its largest lead. Myles Garrett recorded the sack that broke the NFL single-season sack record, coming at a pivotal fourth-quarter moment.
Joe Burrow threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns but also turned the ball over twice across the game. Ja’Marr Chase led all receivers with 96 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. Andre Szmyt made both field-goal attempts, including the game-winning 49-yarder on the final play.
| Player | Team | Stat Line |
| Devin Bush | CLE | 97-yd INT TD, 8 tackles |
| Sam Webb | CLE | 47-yd fumble return TD, 4 tackles |
| Myles Garrett | CLE | 1.0 sack (record-setting) |
| Joe Burrow | CIN | 29/39, 236 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Ja’Marr Chase | CIN | 8 rec, 96 yds, 1 TD |
| Andre Szmyt | CLE | 2/2 FG, 2/2 XP, 8 pts |
Starting Lineups
Full official starting lineups were not published alongside this box score. Shedeur Sanders and Joe Burrow started at quarterback for their respective teams based on confirmed passing stats.
| Position | Cleveland Browns | Cincinnati Bengals |
| QB | Shedeur Sanders | Joe Burrow |
Injury Report
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Denzel Ward (CLE) | Neck | Left game, first half |
| Luke Wypler (CLE) | Knee | Left game, fourth quarter |
| DJ Turner (CIN) | Calf | Left game, fourth quarter |
| Sam Webb (CLE) | Injury during TD play | Returned to game |
Denzel Ward’s early exit removed a key cornerback from Cleveland’s secondary for most of the game. Luke Wypler’s fourth-quarter injury affected the Browns offensive line late in a close contest. DJ Turner’s exit thinned Cincinnati’s cornerback depth during Cleveland’s final scoring drive.
Season Series and Head to Head
Cleveland and Cincinnati split their two 2025 meetings, with Cincinnati winning the Week 1 opener 17-16 before Cleveland won the rematch 20-18. The all-time series between the two AFC North rivals favors Cincinnati 56-49 across 105 meetings dating back to 1970.
| Meeting | Date | Result |
| Week 1, 2025 | September 2025 | Bengals 17, Browns 16 |
| Week 18, 2025 | January 4, 2026 | Browns 20, Bengals 18 |
Conference / League Standings
Both teams finished outside the playoff picture in the AFC North, with Pittsburgh and Baltimore taking the top two spots in the division.
| AFC North | W | L | PCT | PF | PA |
| Pittsburgh | 10 | 7 | .588 | 397 | 387 |
| Baltimore | 8 | 9 | .471 | 424 | 398 |
| Cincinnati | 6 | 11 | .353 | 414 | 492 |
| Cleveland | 5 | 12 | .294 | 279 | 379 |
Broadcast and Stream Information
| Network | Referee | Location |
| CBS | Alex Kemp | Cincinnati, OH |
Conclusion
Cleveland closed its season with back-to-back wins for the first time in two seasons, driven by two defensive touchdowns and a game-winning field goal. Myles Garrett’s record-setting sack added a historic note to a game that otherwise carried little playoff weight.
Cincinnati’s missed extra points and second-half turnovers proved costly in a game it led statistically for long stretches. Cleveland now turns to an offseason decision on head coach Kevin Stefanski’s future. Cincinnati enters its offseason with the No. 9 overall pick and questions about consistency after a season interrupted by Joe Burrow’s injury.
FAQ
Who won the Browns vs Bengals game on January 4, 2026?
The Cleveland Browns won 20-18 on a 49-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt on the final play of the game.
Who set an NFL record in the Browns vs Bengals game?
Myles Garrett recorded his 23rd sack of the season, breaking the NFL single-season sack record during the fourth quarter.
How many touchdowns did Cleveland’s defense score?
Cleveland’s defense scored two touchdowns, a 97-yard interception return by Devin Bush and a 47-yard fumble return by Sam Webb.
What were Joe Burrow’s stats in the Bengals loss to the Browns?
Joe Burrow completed 29 of 39 passes for 236 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the loss.
Why did the Bengals lose despite gaining more total yards?
Cincinnati out-gained Cleveland 364 to 200 yards but turned the ball over twice and missed both extra-point attempts.
What was the final 2025 season record for both teams?
The Cleveland Browns finished 5-12, and the Cincinnati Bengals finished 6-11 in the AFC North standings.
Did Chase Brown reach a rushing milestone in this game?
Chase Brown rushed for 72 yards in the game, passing 1,000 rushing yards for the season for the first time in his career.
