Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals — Browns win 20-18, Jan 4, 2026

atBrowns at Bengals

Week 18

Final

How it finished

Browns edged Bengals 20–18.

Browns led 14–12 at the half and held the lead.

The Browns sit 4th in the AFC North, 2 games back, losers of 2 straight. The Bengals sit atop the AFC North, winners of 2 straight.

The Browns are up next home vs Patriots (Aug 27), then at Jaguars. The Bengals are up next at Eagles (Aug 28), then home vs Buccaneers.

Win probabilityCIN win %

A.Szmyt 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-R.Sunahara, Holder-C.Bojorquez. ** Injury Update: CIN-D.Hill has returned to the game.CLE +34%
S.Sanders pass short left to D.Sampson ran ob at CIN 49 for 9 yards (D.Ivey).CLE +24%
J.Burrow pass short left to N.Fant to CIN 46 for 5 yards (J.Baker; G.Delpit). FUMBLES (J.Baker), RECOVERED by CLV-S.Webb at CIN 47. S.Webb for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN.PENALTY on CLV-S.Webb, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.The Replay Official reviewed the runner was not down by contact ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands. A.Szmyt extra point is GOOD, Center-R.Sunahara, Holder-C.Bojorquez.CLE +20%

Team stats

What each side actually did with the ball.

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

200Total yards364

52Total plays66

3.8Yards / play5.5

11First downs24

82Passing yards222

11/22Comp / att29/39

2.9Yards / pass5.4

4Passing 1st downs16

118Rushing yards142

24Rush attempts25

4.9Yards / rush5.7

6Rushing 1st downs8

5-143rd down5-11

1-14th down1-1

0-1Red zone3-4

6-29Sacks allowed2-14

4-40Penalties6-40

1Turnovers↓2

1Fumbles lost↓1

24:26Possession35:34

Top performers

CLE

PassShedeur Sanders11/22, 111 YDS · 0 TD
RushDylan Sampson10 CAR, 32 YDS
RecCedric Tillman1 REC, 23 YDS

CIN

PassJoe Burrow29/39, 236 YDS · 3 TD · 1 INT
RushChase Brown13 CAR, 72 YDS
RecJa'Marr Chase8 REC, 96 YDS · 1 TD

Drive summary

Browns9 drives

2 FG5 Punt1 Turnover1 End

Scored on 2 of 9 · 23 yds/drive · long 56

Bengals10 drives

5 TD5 Punt

Scored on 5 of 10 · 34 yds/drive · long 79

Scoring summary

Every point in the order it was scored, with the running score beside it.

Q1TDChase Brown 4 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson PAT blocked)0–6
Q1TDDevin Bush 97 Yd Interception Return (Andre Szmyt Kick)7–6
Q2TDSam Webb 47 Yd Fumble Recovery (Andre Szmyt Kick)14–6
Q2TDTee Higgins 13 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson PAT Failed)14–12
Q3FGAndre Szmyt 27 Yd Field Goal17–12
Q4TDJa'Marr Chase 4 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)17–18
Q4FGAndre Szmyt 49 Yd Field Goal20–18

Line score and box score

Points by quarter across the top, then every player who recorded a stat underneath, a table per unit. The pills switch clubs; the defensive table is the half of a football box most scoreboards leave out.

Qtr	1	2	3	4	T
CLECleveland Browns	7	7	3	3	20
CINCincinnati Bengals	6	6	0	6	18

Passing

Player	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Shedeur Sanders	11/22	111	5.0	0	0	6-29	11.8	64.8

Rushing

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Dylan Sampson	10	32	3.2	11
Shedeur Sanders	3	26	8.7	13
Raheim Sanders	5	26	5.2	14
Malachi Corley	3	18	6.0	8
Trayveon Williams	1	7	7.0	7
Jerry Jeudy	1	5	5.0	5
Isaiah Bond	1	4	4.0	4

Receiving

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	LONG	TGTS
Cedric Tillman	1	23	23.0	23	2
Malachi Corley	2	20	10.0	19	2
Jerry Jeudy	2	17	8.5	11	6
Trayveon Williams	1	13	13.0	13	2
Isaiah Bond	1	13	13.0	13	2
Dylan Sampson	2	12	6.0	9	3
Raheim Sanders	1	7	7.0	7	1
Brenden Bates	1	6	6.0	6	1
Sal Cannella	0	0	0.0	0	1
Blake Whiteheart	0	0	0.0	0	1

Fumbles

Player	FUM	LOST	REC
Shedeur Sanders	1	1	0
Sam Webb	0	0	1

Defense

Player	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS	TD
Devin Bush	14	6	0	0	1	0	1
Grant Delpit	10	5	1	1	0	2	0
Ronnie Hickman	8	5	0	0	2	0	0
Mohamoud Diabate	7	1	0	0	0	0	0
D'Angelo Ross	6	3	0	0	2	0	0
Rayshawn Jenkins	5	2	0	0	0	0	0
Jerome Baker	5	1	0	0	0	0	0
Sam Webb	4	2	0	0	0	0	1
Mason Graham	4	1	0	0	0	0	0
Cameron Thomas	3	2	0	0	0	0	0
Tyson Campbell	3	1	0	0	0	0	0
Shelby Harris	2	2	0	0	1	0	0

Interceptions

Player	INT	YDS	TD
Devin Bush	1	97	1

Kick returns

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Trayveon Williams	3	73	24.3	29	0

Punt returns

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Gage Larvadain	2	6	3.0	4	0

Kicking

Player	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Andre Szmyt	2/2	100.0	49	2/2	8

Punting

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	In 20	LONG
Corey Bojorquez	5	225	45.0	0	1	52

League standings

The full ladder, with both clubs marked.

AFC East

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Buffalo Bills2-01.000W2

2New England Patriots1-0.750W1

3New York Jets1-1.500W1

4Miami Dolphins0-2.000L2

AFC North

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Cincinnati Bengals2-01.000W2

2Baltimore Ravens2-01.000W2

3Pittsburgh Steelers1-1.500L1

4Cleveland Browns0-2.000L2

AFC South

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Tennessee Titans2-01.000W2

2Jacksonville Jaguars1-1.500L1

3Indianapolis Colts0-1.250L1

4Houston Texans0-2.000L2

AFC West

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Los Angeles Chargers1-1.500L1

2Las Vegas Raiders1-1.500W1

3Denver Broncos1-1.500L1

4Kansas City Chiefs0-2.000L2

NFC East

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Dallas Cowboys2-01.000W2

2Washington Commanders1-1.500L1

3New York Giants1-1.500W1

4Philadelphia Eagles0-2.000L2

NFC North

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Detroit Lions1-1.500W1

2Minnesota Vikings1-1.500L1

3Green Bay Packers1-1.500W1

4Chicago Bears1-1.500L1

NFC South

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-01.000W2

2Carolina Panthers2-1.667W1

3Atlanta Falcons1-1.500W1

4New Orleans Saints0-2.000L2

NFC West

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Los Angeles Rams2-01.000W2

2San Francisco 49ers1-1.500W1

3Arizona Cardinals1-2.333L1

4Seattle Seahawks0-2.000L2

Browns at Bengals

Cleveland

Browns

Cincinnati

Bengals

Post Game SummaryStat Savant

atBrowns at Bengals

Week 18

Final

How it finished

Browns edged Bengals 20–18.

Browns led 14–12 at the half and held the lead.

The Browns sit 4th in the AFC North, 2 games back, losers of 2 straight. The Bengals sit atop the AFC North, winners of 2 straight.

The Browns are up next home vs Patriots (Aug 27), then at Jaguars. The Bengals are up next at Eagles (Aug 28), then home vs Buccaneers.

Win probabilityCIN win %

A.Szmyt 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-R.Sunahara, Holder-C.Bojorquez. ** Injury Update: CIN-D.Hill has returned to the game.CLE +34%
S.Sanders pass short left to D.Sampson ran ob at CIN 49 for 9 yards (D.Ivey).CLE +24%
J.Burrow pass short left to N.Fant to CIN 46 for 5 yards (J.Baker; G.Delpit). FUMBLES (J.Baker), RECOVERED by CLV-S.Webb at CIN 47. S.Webb for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN.PENALTY on CLV-S.Webb, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.The Replay Official reviewed the runner was not down by contact ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands. A.Szmyt extra point is GOOD, Center-R.Sunahara, Holder-C.Bojorquez.CLE +20%

Team stats

What each side actually did with the ball.

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

200Total yards364

52Total plays66

3.8Yards / play5.5

11First downs24

82Passing yards222

11/22Comp / att29/39

2.9Yards / pass5.4

4Passing 1st downs16

118Rushing yards142

24Rush attempts25

4.9Yards / rush5.7

6Rushing 1st downs8

5-143rd down5-11

1-14th down1-1

0-1Red zone3-4

6-29Sacks allowed2-14

4-40Penalties6-40

1Turnovers↓2

1Fumbles lost↓1

24:26Possession35:34

Top performers

CLE

PassShedeur Sanders11/22, 111 YDS · 0 TD
RushDylan Sampson10 CAR, 32 YDS
RecCedric Tillman1 REC, 23 YDS

CIN

PassJoe Burrow29/39, 236 YDS · 3 TD · 1 INT
RushChase Brown13 CAR, 72 YDS
RecJa'Marr Chase8 REC, 96 YDS · 1 TD

Drive summary

Browns9 drives

2 FG5 Punt1 Turnover1 End

Scored on 2 of 9 · 23 yds/drive · long 56

Bengals10 drives

5 TD5 Punt

Scored on 5 of 10 · 34 yds/drive · long 79

Scoring summary

Every point in the order it was scored, with the running score beside it.

Q1TDChase Brown 4 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson PAT blocked)0–6
Q1TDDevin Bush 97 Yd Interception Return (Andre Szmyt Kick)7–6
Q2TDSam Webb 47 Yd Fumble Recovery (Andre Szmyt Kick)14–6
Q2TDTee Higgins 13 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson PAT Failed)14–12
Q3FGAndre Szmyt 27 Yd Field Goal17–12
Q4TDJa'Marr Chase 4 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)17–18
Q4FGAndre Szmyt 49 Yd Field Goal20–18

Line score and box score

Qtr	1	2	3	4	T
CLECleveland Browns	7	7	3	3	20
CINCincinnati Bengals	6	6	0	6	18

Passing

Player	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SACKS	QBR	RTG
Shedeur Sanders	11/22	111	5.0	0	0	6-29	11.8	64.8

Rushing

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Dylan Sampson	10	32	3.2	11
Shedeur Sanders	3	26	8.7	13
Raheim Sanders	5	26	5.2	14
Malachi Corley	3	18	6.0	8
Trayveon Williams	1	7	7.0	7
Jerry Jeudy	1	5	5.0	5
Isaiah Bond	1	4	4.0	4

Receiving

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	LONG	TGTS
Cedric Tillman	1	23	23.0	23	2
Malachi Corley	2	20	10.0	19	2
Jerry Jeudy	2	17	8.5	11	6
Trayveon Williams	1	13	13.0	13	2
Isaiah Bond	1	13	13.0	13	2
Dylan Sampson	2	12	6.0	9	3
Raheim Sanders	1	7	7.0	7	1
Brenden Bates	1	6	6.0	6	1
Sal Cannella	0	0	0.0	0	1
Blake Whiteheart	0	0	0.0	0	1

Fumbles

Player	FUM	LOST	REC
Shedeur Sanders	1	1	0
Sam Webb	0	0	1

Defense

Player	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS	TD
Devin Bush	14	6	0	0	1	0	1
Grant Delpit	10	5	1	1	0	2	0
Ronnie Hickman	8	5	0	0	2	0	0
Mohamoud Diabate	7	1	0	0	0	0	0
D'Angelo Ross	6	3	0	0	2	0	0
Rayshawn Jenkins	5	2	0	0	0	0	0
Jerome Baker	5	1	0	0	0	0	0
Sam Webb	4	2	0	0	0	0	1
Mason Graham	4	1	0	0	0	0	0
Cameron Thomas	3	2	0	0	0	0	0
Tyson Campbell	3	1	0	0	0	0	0
Shelby Harris	2	2	0	0	1	0	0

Interceptions

Player	INT	YDS	TD
Devin Bush	1	97	1

Kick returns

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Trayveon Williams	3	73	24.3	29	0

Punt returns

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Gage Larvadain	2	6	3.0	4	0

Kicking

Player	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Andre Szmyt	2/2	100.0	49	2/2	8

Punting

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	In 20	LONG
Corey Bojorquez	5	225	45.0	0	1	52

League standings

The full ladder, with both clubs marked.

AFC East

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Buffalo Bills2-01.000W2

2New England Patriots1-0.750W1

3New York Jets1-1.500W1

4Miami Dolphins0-2.000L2

AFC North

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Cincinnati Bengals2-01.000W2

2Baltimore Ravens2-01.000W2

3Pittsburgh Steelers1-1.500L1

4Cleveland Browns0-2.000L2

AFC South

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Tennessee Titans2-01.000W2

2Jacksonville Jaguars1-1.500L1

3Indianapolis Colts0-1.250L1

4Houston Texans0-2.000L2

AFC West

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Los Angeles Chargers1-1.500L1

2Las Vegas Raiders1-1.500W1

3Denver Broncos1-1.500L1

4Kansas City Chiefs0-2.000L2

NFC East

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Dallas Cowboys2-01.000W2

2Washington Commanders1-1.500L1

3New York Giants1-1.500W1

4Philadelphia Eagles0-2.000L2

NFC North

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Detroit Lions1-1.500W1

2Minnesota Vikings1-1.500L1

3Green Bay Packers1-1.500W1

4Chicago Bears1-1.500L1

NFC South

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-01.000W2

2Carolina Panthers2-1.667W1

3Atlanta Falcons1-1.500W1

4New Orleans Saints0-2.000L2

NFC West

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1Los Angeles Rams2-01.000W2

2San Francisco 49ers1-1.500W1

3Arizona Cardinals1-2.333L1

4Seattle Seahawks0-2.000L2