The Cleveland Browns defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 20-18 at Paycor Stadium on January 4, 2026, in the final game of the 2025 NFL regular season. Cincinnati outgained Cleveland by 164 yards, held possession for more than 35 minutes, scored three offensive touchdowns, and led 18-17 with 89 seconds remaining, but Evan McPherson missed both extra-point attempts and left the Bengals two points short. Myles Garrett recorded his NFL-record 23rd sack in the fourth quarter, Shedeur Sanders drove 40 yards on 10 plays in the closing seconds for Andre Szmyt’s 49-yard walk-off field goal, and Cleveland’s defense produced both of the team’s touchdowns through Devin Bush’s 97-yard interception return and Sam Webb’s 47-yard fumble recovery.
Table of Contents
Final Score
Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Final
Cleveland Browns (5-12)
7
7
3
3
20
Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
6
6
0
6
18
Game Information
Date
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Kickoff
1:00 PM ET
Venue
Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance
62,230
Weather
37°F, 56% relative humidity, no wind
Surface
FieldTurf (outdoors)
Game Duration
2:52
Vegas Line
Cincinnati Bengals -8.0
Over/Under
45.5 (Under — combined total: 38 points)
Won Toss
Cincinnati Bengals
Referee
Alex Kemp
Umpire
Brandon Ellison
Down Judge
Mike Carr
Line Judge
Rusty Baynes
Back Judge
Scott Helverson
Side Judge
Lo van Pham
Field Judge
Sean Petty
In-game injuries: CB Denzel Ward (neck) left the game in the first half for Cleveland; C Luke Wypler (knee) was injured in the fourth quarter. CB DJ Turner (calf) exited in the fourth quarter for Cincinnati.
Scoring Summary
Qtr
Time
Team
Play
CLE
CIN
1st
7:59
Cincinnati
Chase Brown 4-yd pass from Joe Burrow (McPherson kick blocked by Alex Wright)
0
6
1st
0:56
Cleveland
Devin Bush Jr. 97-yd interception return (Szmyt kick good; 15-yd unsportsmanlike penalty on Bush moved snap to 48 yds)
7
6
2nd
14:06
Cleveland
Sam Webb 47-yd fumble return (Szmyt kick good; 15-yd unsportsmanlike penalty on Webb moved snap to 48 yds)
14
6
2nd
0:29
Cincinnati
Tee Higgins 13-yd pass from Joe Burrow (McPherson kick no good)
14
12
3rd
8:00
Cleveland
Andre Szmyt 27-yd field goal
17
12
4th
1:29
Cincinnati
Ja’Marr Chase 4-yd pass from Joe Burrow (two-point conversion pass incomplete, Burrow to Gesicki, broken up by Grant Delpit)
17
18
4th
0:00
Cleveland
Andre Szmyt 49-yd field goal (walk-off)
20
18
Team Statistics
Stat
Cleveland Browns
Cincinnati Bengals
Total Yards
200
364
Total Plays
52
66
Yards per Play
3.8
5.5
Net Passing Yards
82
222
Gross Passing Yards
111
236
Comp / Att
11 / 22
29 / 39
Completion %
50.0%
74.4%
Passing Touchdowns
0
3
Interceptions Thrown
0
1
Sacks Allowed
6 for -29 yds
2 for -14 yds
Rushing Yards
118
142
Rushing Attempts
24
25
Yards per Rush
4.9
5.7
First Downs
11
24
— By Passing
4
16
— By Rushing
6
8
— By Penalty
1
0
Third Down Conv.
5 / 14 (35.7%)
5 / 11 (45.5%)
Fourth Down Conv.
1 / 1
1 / 1
Red Zone (Att / TD / FG)
1 / 0 / 1
4 / 3 / 0
Turnovers
1
2
Fumbles Lost
1
1
Interceptions
0
1
Penalties
4 for 40 yds
6 for 40 yds
Time of Possession
24:26
35:34
Offensive Touchdowns
0
3
Defensive / ST Touchdowns
2
0
Passing Statistics
Cincinnati recorded six sacks on Sanders’ 30 dropbacks and pressured him on 46.7% of snaps, with four quarterback hits alongside the sacks. Burrow operated on 42 dropbacks at a 14.3% pressure rate, averaging 2.70 seconds to throw compared to Sanders’ 3.40 seconds.
Cleveland Browns
Player
Comp
Att
Yds
TD
INT
Sacks
Sk Yds
Long
Rating
Shedeur Sanders
11
22
111
0
0
6
29
23
64.8
Cincinnati Bengals
Player
Comp
Att
Yds
TD
INT
Sacks
Sk Yds
Long
Rating
Joe Burrow
29
39
236
3
1
2
14
21
104.2
Advanced Quarterback Comparison
Stat
Shedeur Sanders
Joe Burrow
Dropbacks
31
42
Completion %
50.0%
74.4%
Adjusted Completion %
63.2%
78.4%
Avg Depth of Target (aDOT)
9.7 yds
6.1 yds
Intended Air Yards
194
165
Completed Air Yards
31
104
Yards After Catch (Total)
80
132
YAC per Completion
7.3
4.6
Bad Throw %
28.6% (6 of 21)
7.9% (3 of 38)
Pressure Rate
46.7% (14 of 30)
14.3% (6 of 42)
Blitzes Faced
5
11
Avg Time to Throw
3.40s
2.70s
Scrambles
2 for 22 yds
1 for 8 yds
Rushing Statistics
Chase Brown’s 72 yards pushed his 2025 season rushing total to 1,019 on 232 carries, giving him his first thousand-yard campaign in three NFL seasons after finishing 10 yards short at 990 in 2024, when an ankle sprain ended his Week 18 appearance early.
Cleveland Browns
Player
Car
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
Dylan Sampson
10
32
3.2
0
11
Raheim Sanders
5
26
5.2
0
14
Shedeur Sanders
3
26
8.7
0
13
Malachi Corley
3
18
6.0
0
8
Trayveon Williams
1
7
7.0
0
7
Jerry Jeudy
1
5
5.0
0
5
Isaiah Bond
1
4
4.0
0
4
Team
24
118
4.9
0
14
Cincinnati Bengals
Player
Car
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
Chase Brown
13
72
5.5
0
19
Samaje Perine
8
42
5.3
0
13
Joe Burrow
2
17
8.5
0
9
Ke’Shawn Williams
1
9
9.0
0
9
Joe Flacco
1
2
2.0
0
2
Team
25
142
5.7
0
19
Receiving Statistics
Cleveland Browns
Player
Rec
Tgt
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
YAC
Cedric Tillman
1
2
23
23.0
0
23
8
Malachi Corley
2
2
20
10.0
0
19
19
Jerry Jeudy
2
6
17
8.5
0
11
5
Isaiah Bond
1
2
13
13.0
0
13
0
Trayveon Williams
1
2
13
13.0
0
13
16
Dylan Sampson
2
3
12
6.0
0
9
20
Raheim Sanders
1
1
7
7.0
0
7
9
Brenden Bates
1
1
6
6.0
0
6
3
Blake Whiteheart
0
1
0
—
0
—
—
Sal Cannella
0
1
0
—
0
—
—
Team
11
21
111
10.1
0
23
—
Cincinnati Bengals
Player
Rec
Tgt
Yds
Avg
TD
Long
YAC
Ja’Marr Chase
8
10
96
12.0
1
21
50
Tee Higgins
6
9
67
11.2
1
21
10
Chase Brown
4
6
18
4.5
1
6
32
Drew Sample
3
3
17
5.7
0
8
20
Mike Gesicki
2
2
13
6.5
0
10
5
Andrei Iosivas
2
3
10
5.0
0
7
1
Samaje Perine
3
4
10
3.3
0
5
8
Noah Fant
1
1
5
5.0
0
5
6
Team
29
38
236
8.1
3
21
—
Defensive Statistics
Cleveland Browns Defense
Player
Pos
Comb
Solo
Ast
Sacks
TFL
PD
QB Hits
INT
FR
FF
TD
Devin Bush Jr.
LB
14
6
8
0.0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
Grant Delpit
S
10
5
5
1.0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
Ronnie Hickman Jr.
S
8
5
3
0.0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Mohamoud Diabate
LB
7
1
6
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
D’Angelo Ross
CB
6
3
3
0.0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Jerome Baker
LB
5
1
4
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
Rayshawn Jenkins
S
5
2
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Sam Webb
CB
4
2
2
0.0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Mason Graham
DT
4
1
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cameron Thomas
DE
3
2
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tyson Campbell
CB
3
1
2
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Shelby Harris
DT
2
2
0
0.0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Blake Whiteheart
TE
2
1
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Alex Wright
DE
2
1
1
0.0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Myles Garrett
DE
1
1
0
1.0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
Tre Avery
CB
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
LB
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Chris Edmonds
S
1
0
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Michael Hall Jr.
DT
1
0
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Myles Harden
CB
1
0
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Donovan McMillon
S
1
0
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Isaiah McGuire
DE
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Team
82
36
—
2.0
2
7
5
1
1
1
2
Cincinnati Bengals Defense
Player
Pos
Comb
Solo
Ast
Sacks
TFL
PD
QB Hits
INT
FR
FF
TD
B.J. Hill
DT
8
4
4
1.0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Cameron Sample
DE
6
4
2
2.0
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
T.J. Slaton
DT
5
2
3
1.0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Myles Murphy
DE
5
2
3
0.0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Barrett Carter
LB
5
2
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Daxton Hill
CB
4
4
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Jalen Davis
CB
4
1
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Joe Giles-Harris
LB
4
1
3
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Jordan Battle
S
3
3
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Demetrius Knight Jr.
LB
3
2
1
1.0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
Geno Stone
S
3
2
1
0.0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
DJ Ivey
CB
2
2
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
PJ Jules
S
2
1
1
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Cedric Johnson
DE
2
1
1
1.0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
Oren Burks
LB
1
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tycen Anderson
S
1
1
0
0.0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
Shemar Stewart
DE
1
0
1
0.0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
Howard Cross III
DT
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Team
59
33
—
6.0
4
5
9
0
1
1
0
Interceptions
Player
Team
INT
Yds
TD
Long
Devin Bush Jr.
CLE
1
97
1
97
Cincinnati Bengals
CIN
0
0
0
—
Fumbles
Player
Team
Fum
Lost
Rec
Yds
TD
Shedeur Sanders
CLE
1
1
0
0
0
Sam Webb
CLE
0
0
1
47
1
Noah Fant
CIN
1
1
0
0
0
Howard Cross III
CIN
0
0
1
0
0
Special Teams
McPherson missed both of his extra-point attempts; the first was blocked by Alex Wright in the first quarter, the second was wide in the second. Both of Szmyt’s conversions came from 48 yards rather than the standard snap distance, after unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on Bush and Webb pushed back the attempts following each of Cleveland’s defensive touchdowns.
Kicking
Player
Team
FGM
FGA
FG%
Long
XPM
XPA
Pts
Andre Szmyt
CLE
2
2
100.0%
49
2
2
8
Evan McPherson
CIN
0
0
—
—
0
2
0
Punting
Player
Team
Punts
Yds
Avg
Long
In 20
Corey Bojorquez
CLE
5
225
45.0
52
1
Ryan Rehkow
CIN
5
222
44.4
58
4
Kick Returns
Player
Team
Ret
Yds
Avg
Long
TD
Trayveon Williams
CLE
3
73
24.3
29
0
Ke’Shawn Williams
CIN
4
99
24.8
31
0
Punt Returns
Player
Team
Ret
Yds
Avg
Long
TD
Gage Larvadain
CLE
2
6
3.0
4
0
Ke’Shawn Williams
CIN
3
13
4.3
8
0
Drive Chart
Cleveland Browns Drives
Drive
Qtr
Time
LOS
Plays
Yds
Result
1
1st
12:37
CLE 5
5
24
Fumble (lost)
2
1st
7:59
CLE 24
3
4
Punt
3
2nd
9:44
CLE 12
4
14
Punt
4
2nd
6:16
CLE 30
3
6
Punt
5
2nd
0:29
CLE 30
3
7
End of Half
6
3rd
15:00
CLE 35
12
56
Field Goal (27 yds)
7
3rd
1:56
CLE 9
11
50
Punt
8
4th
3:49
CLE 9
3
9
Punt
9
4th
1:23
CLE 29
10
40
Field Goal (49 yds, walk-off)
Cincinnati Bengals Drives
Drive
Qtr
Time
LOS
Plays
Yds
Result
1
1st
15:00
CIN 34
3
5
Punt
2
1st
10:22
CLE 29
4
29
Touchdown
3
1st
6:20
CIN 30
9
63
Interception (Bush pick-six)
4
1st
0:56
CIN 30
4
16
Fumble (Webb return TD)
5
2nd
14:06
CIN 28
6
22
Punt
6
2nd
7:13
CIN 22
3
2
Punt
7
2nd
4:41
CIN 21
9
79
Touchdown
8
3rd
8:00
CIN 30
9
26
Punt
9
4th
10:36
CIN 9
12
41
Punt
10
4th
2:41
CIN 39
7
61
Touchdown
Starting Lineups
Cleveland Browns
Pos
Player
QB
Shedeur Sanders
RB
Dylan Sampson
WR
Cedric Tillman
WR
Jerry Jeudy
TE
Brenden Bates
TE
Blake Whiteheart
OT
Cam Robinson
OT
KT Leveston
G
Joel Bitonio
G
Teven Jenkins
C
Luke Wypler
DE
Myles Garrett
DE
Alex Wright
DT
Shelby Harris
DT
Mason Graham
LB
Mohamoud Diabate
LB
Devin Bush Jr.
CB
Myles Harden
CB
Tyson Campbell
CB
Denzel Ward
S
Ronnie Hickman Jr.
S
Grant Delpit
Cincinnati Bengals
Pos
Player
QB
Joe Burrow
RB
Chase Brown
WR
Tee Higgins
WR
Andrei Iosivas
WR
Ja’Marr Chase
TE
Noah Fant
OT
Orlando Brown Jr.
OT
Amarius Mims
G
Dylan Fairchild
G
Dalton Risner
C
Ted Karras
DE
Shemar Stewart
DE
Myles Murphy
DT
B.J. Hill
DT
T.J. Slaton
LB
Barrett Carter
LB
Oren Burks
LB
Demetrius Knight Jr.
CB
DJ Turner
CB
Daxton Hill
S
Geno Stone
S
Jordan Battle
Snap Counts
Cleveland Browns Offense (52 snaps)
Player
Pos
Off Snaps
Off %
ST Snaps
ST %
Cam Robinson
T
52
100%
4
17%
Joel Bitonio
G
52
100%
4
17%
KT Leveston
T
52
100%
4
17%
Teven Jenkins
G
52
100%
4
17%
Shedeur Sanders
QB
52
100%
0
0%
Jerry Jeudy
WR
46
88%
0
0%
Cedric Tillman
WR
40
77%
0
0%
Luke Wypler
C
35
67%
3
13%
Blake Whiteheart
TE
34
65%
13
54%
Isaiah Bond
WR
28
54%
0
0%
Dylan Sampson
RB
26
50%
0
0%
Brenden Bates
TE
24
46%
4
17%
Malachi Corley
WR
22
42%
4
17%
Zak Zinter
G
17
33%
4
17%
Raheim Sanders
RB
14
27%
0
0%
Trayveon Williams
RB
11
21%
17
71%
Sal Cannella
TE
11
21%
4
17%
Gage Larvadain
WR
4
8%
5
21%
Cleveland Browns Defense (68 snaps)
Player
Pos
Def Snaps
Def %
ST Snaps
ST %
Grant Delpit
S
68
100%
7
29%
Ronnie Hickman Jr.
S
68
100%
2
8%
Myles Garrett
DE
65
96%
2
8%
Devin Bush Jr.
LB
56
82%
2
8%
Mohamoud Diabate
LB
55
81%
7
29%
Sam Webb
CB
54
79%
1
4%
Mason Graham
DT
53
78%
1
4%
Shelby Harris
DT
48
71%
3
13%
Alex Wright
DE
43
63%
7
29%
D’Angelo Ross
CB
40
59%
19
79%
Rayshawn Jenkins
S
36
53%
5
21%
Tyson Campbell
CB
28
41%
0
0%
Jerome Baker
LB
27
40%
5
21%
Myles Harden
CB
24
35%
4
17%
Adin Huntington
DT
21
31%
11
46%
Isaiah McGuire
DE
18
26%
3
13%
Cameron Thomas
DE
15
22%
11
46%
Michael Hall Jr.
DT
14
21%
0
0%
Denzel Ward
CB
13
19%
0
0%
Chris Edmonds
S
1
1%
17
71%
Tre Avery
CB
1
1%
10
42%
Donovan McMillon
S
0
0%
17
71%
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
LB
0
0%
17
71%
Cincinnati Bengals Offense (68 snaps)
Player
Pos
Off Snaps
Off %
ST Snaps
ST %
Orlando Brown Jr.
T
68
100%
2
8%
Ted Karras
C
68
100%
2
8%
Amarius Mims
T
68
100%
2
8%
Dalton Risner
G
68
100%
1
4%
Ja’Marr Chase
WR
68
100%
0
0%
Dylan Fairchild
G
68
100%
0
0%
Joe Burrow
QB
67
99%
0
0%
Tee Higgins
WR
59
87%
0
0%
Drew Sample
TE
49
72%
11
46%
Chase Brown
RB
38
56%
0
0%
Andrei Iosivas
WR
36
53%
0
0%
Samaje Perine
RB
33
49%
9
38%
Mike Gesicki
TE
26
38%
0
0%
Noah Fant
TE
15
22%
0
0%
Mitchell Tinsley
WR
8
12%
7
29%
Tanner Hudson
TE
6
9%
11
46%
Ke’Shawn Williams
WR
2
3%
9
38%
Joe Flacco
QB
1
1%
0
0%
Cincinnati Bengals Defense (52 snaps)
Player
Pos
Def Snaps
Def %
ST Snaps
ST %
Jordan Battle
S
52
100%
4
17%
Barrett Carter
LB
52
100%
0
0%
Daxton Hill
CB
49
94%
4
17%
Myles Murphy
DE
49
94%
4
17%
Demetrius Knight Jr.
LB
46
88%
0
0%
Jalen Davis
CB
41
79%
4
17%
DJ Turner
CB
41
79%
0
0%
Geno Stone
S
37
71%
4
17%
Cameron Sample
DE
37
71%
0
0%
Shemar Stewart
DE
33
63%
0
0%
B.J. Hill
DT
27
52%
4
17%
T.J. Slaton
DT
26
50%
4
17%
Cedric Johnson
DE
25
48%
13
54%
DJ Ivey
CB
17
33%
18
75%
Tycen Anderson
S
14
27%
22
92%
Oren Burks
LB
13
25%
22
92%
McKinnley Jackson
DT
7
13%
4
17%
Joe Giles-Harris
LB
1
2%
22
92%
PFF Initial Grades
Grades are from Pro Football Focus and are subject to revision upon completion of full film study.
Offense
Player
Team
Pos
Snaps
Grade
Ja’Marr Chase
CIN
WR
68
83.3
Teven Jenkins
CLE
G
52
81.8
Joe Burrow
CIN
QB
67
80.8
Malachi Corley
CLE
WR
22
80.5
Tee Higgins
CIN
WR
59
71.7
Defense
Player
Team
Pos
Snaps
Grade
Myles Garrett
CLE
DE
65
88.3
Jerome Baker
CLE
LB
27
80.0
Ronnie Hickman Jr.
CLE
S
68
77.7
B.J. Hill
CIN
DT
27
75.6
Grant Delpit
CLE
S
68
74.5
Cleveland’s 5-12 finish placed the Browns with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, while Cincinnati’s 6-11 record gave the Bengals the ninth. Garrett’s record sack, Bush’s 97-yard pick-six, Webb’s 47-yard fumble return, and Szmyt’s two field goals accounted for all 20 Cleveland points in a game where the Browns’ offense never reached the end zone, making it one of the more statistically unusual wins of the 2025 NFL season. Kevin Stefanski was fired the following morning after six years as head coach; the Browns named Todd Monken his successor on January 28, 2026.
Cornelia Lindqvist is a Swedish-American sports journalist with 4 years of experience covering professional athletics. She previously worked at Sports Illustrated before joining Newzire. Cornelia reports on the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, international football, and cricket, covering game results, roster moves, trade deals, playoff standings, and player statistics. Her sports analysis background helps readers understand the strategies and numbers behind wins and losses.
