The Cleveland Browns will close the season on Sunday when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Browns avoided their first winless season in the AFC North Division since 2017 with last weekend’s victory
over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They now need a win on Sunday to avoid being swept by the Bengals for the second consecutive season.
Neither team has much to play for other than pride and draft position, with the Browns currently slotted at No. 6 overall and the Bengals checking in at No. 11. The other storylines to watch are if defensive end Myles Garrett can get at least one sack to set an NFL record, and if quarterback Shedeur Sanders can do enough to make the Browns reconsider selecting a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It is the Browns and Bengals to end the season, and here is everything you need to know about the game.
Game Info
Records: Cleveland is 4-12. Cincinnati is 6-10.
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
Stadium: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati
TV: CBS
Announcers: Tom McCarthy, Logan Ryan, and Amanda Balionis (sideline reporter)
Radio: 850 ESPN Cleveland, 92.3 The Fan WKRK, 98.5 WNCX, 1300 AM La Mega (Español)
Announcers: Andrew Siciliano, Nathan Zegura, and Je’Rod Cherry (sideline reporter)
Last meeting: The Bengals won the last meeting, 17-16, in Week 1 of this season.
First meeting: The Browns won the first meeting, 30-27, on October 11, 1970.
All-time series: The Bengals lead the all-time series, 56-48. The Browns have lost three in a row in Cincinnati.
Weather: 33 degrees and sunny, with no chance of precipitation. Winds from the northeast at 3 mph. (weather.com)
Uniform: The Browns will close out the season in style with their white jersey and orange pants combination.
Injury report: Browns – Out: Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (groin), tight end David Njoku (knee), linebacker Winston Reid (back), and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (quad, ankle). Questionable: Cornerback Myles Harden (shoulder), guard Teven Jenkins (concussion), and center Kingsley Eguakun (knee, shoulder). Bengals – Out: Wide receiver Charlie Jones (ankle), center Matt Lee (knee), cornerback Josh Newton (hamstring), and defensive end Joseph Ossai (ankle). Questionable: Tight end Cam Grandy (chest) and defensive tackle B.J. Hill (ankle).
The line: Browns +7.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
News and Notes
- Cleveland defensive end Myles Garrett has 15 sacks in 13 career games against the Bengals, with 12 of those against Joe Burrow.
- Cincinnati is last in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing 148.9 yards per game.
- The Browns only managed 78 rushing yards in Week 17.
- If the Bengals give up 28 points, they will become just the eighth team in NFL history to allow 500 points in a season.
- Since their bye in Week 10, the Bengals have given up 20 or fewer points in five of their seven games.
- The Browns have only scored more than 20 points three times this season.
- In six games with Shedeur Sanders as the starting quarterback, Cleveland is averaging 16.2 points per game.
- Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow has passed for more than 300 yards in each of the past two games.
- The Browns have not allowed a 300-yard passer in 44 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the league.
- Cleveland’s 51 sacks are the most by the defense in franchise history.
- A win would give the Browns consecutive victories for the first time since a four-game winning streak in December of 2023.
- Cleveland tight end Harold Fannin Jr. leads the Browns in receptions (72), receiving yards (731), and receiving touchdowns (6).
- Fannin’s receiving yards are the ninth-most in NFL history for a rookie tight end.
- Cleveland linebacker Carson Schwesinger is one of just five rookies since 2000 to record 125-plus tackles, 10-plus tackles for loss, and two or more interceptions in a season.
In Case You Missed It
- 6 takeaways from Cleveland’s coordinators about the Bengals
- Browns offseason: Change in power structure between owner, GM and HC could help
- Browns WR Jerry Jeudy continues his winding road career
- Browns vs. Bengals Week 18 predictions: Will Cincinnati thrive on offense against Cleveland’s defense?
- Browns 2026 NFL draft order: CLE’s route to the highest pick possible
- Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Week 18 TV Map
- Beware when the winds of change blow through Browns Town
- Browns Shedeur Sanders ‘making major strides,’ according to former NFL QB
- 2026 NFL draft order: Browns certain to be picking in this range
- Browns Kevin Stefanski speaks about his future in Cleveland
- Future QB plans continue to be problematic
A Final Quote
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders on his rookie season and relationship with head coach Kevin Stefanski:
“I’ll say I’m truly thankful. I’m thankful that I was able to come here. I’m thankful that I do have a relationship with all the coaches. I’m thankful that just evolving from day one, evolving from being a ‘hungry dawg’ to now, it’s exciting. And sometimes I think about those days, so I don’t take anything for granted. I think overall, the communication with the coaches and everything has been really good, and I’m just thankful to just be here in general.”
What are you looking for from the Browns in Sunday’s season finale against the Bengals?
