The Cleveland Browns finished a brutal, often exhausting 2025 season with a win that felt like a fever dream. If you were looking for a polished, dominant performance to close out the year, you weren't watching the right team. But if you wanted history, drama, and a rookie kicker finally finding his redemption at the literal last second, the browns last game score of 20-18 over the Cincinnati Bengals gave you everything.
Honestly, it shouldn't have been that close. Cleveland’s offense spent large chunks of the afternoon looking like it was already thinking about the offseason. They were held to just 200 total yards. Two hundred. In a modern NFL game, that’s basically moving in slow motion. Yet, here we are, talking about a victory.
The Record-Breaking Moment at Paycor Stadium
Before we get into the "how" of the scoreboard, we have to talk about Myles Garrett. He’s the engine of this team, and on Sunday, January 4, 2026, he finally climbed the mountain. With 4:44 left in the game, the Bengals were driving. They were at the Browns' 45-yard line, looking to put the game away.
Garrett exploded off the edge.
He dropped Joe Burrow for his 23rd sack of the season. That’s it. The record. It’s now his. Seeing him celebrate in the cold Cincinnati air was probably the highlight of the year for a fanbase that didn't have much else to cheer for during a 5-12 campaign.
🔗 Read more: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
Why the Defense Won This Game
You’ve gotta look at the scoring summary to see how weird this game actually was.
- Devin Bush had a 97-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter.
- Sam Webb scooped up a fumble and took it 47 yards to the house in the second.
That is 14 points coming directly from the defense. Without those two plays, the Browns aren't even in the building. The offense, led by rookie Shedeur Sanders, was mostly stagnant. Sanders finished with 111 passing yards and a fumble of his own. It’s tough out there for a rookie QB, especially when the line is giving up six sacks in a single afternoon.
Breaking Down the Browns Last Game Score
The fourth quarter was a mess of emotions. Cincinnati took the lead 18-17 after Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a 4-yard score with only 1:29 left on the clock. It felt like the "same old Browns" narrative was settling in. But then, things got interesting.
The Final Drive
Sanders, who had been struggling all day, suddenly found a rhythm. He wasn't throwing bombs; he was basically nickel-and-diming the Bengals' secondary. A 13-yarder to Isaiah Bond. An 11-yarder to Jerry Jeudy. Suddenly, the Browns were at the Cincinnati 31-yard line.
💡 You might also like: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Then came Andre Szmyt.
If you remember Week 1, Szmyt had a nightmare. He missed a kick that cost them the game against these same Bengals. This time, as the clock hit zero, he drilled a 49-yard field goal. Game over. 20-18.
Real Talk on the Stats
Look at these numbers. They tell a story of a team that won despite themselves:
- Total Yards: Bengals 141, Browns 327 (Wait—actually, the net yardage was skewed by the defensive returns, the Bengals offense was surprisingly bottled up by Cleveland's front).
- Rushing Leader: Dylan Sampson led the way with a modest 32 yards.
- Passing: Shedeur Sanders went 11-for-22. Not exactly "Air Coryell," but it got the job done when the pressure was highest.
What This Means for the 2026 Offseason
Winning the last two games of the season (they beat the Steelers the week before) is a nice feeling, but it didn't save Kevin Stefanski’s job. The front office moved on the very next day. It’s a bit of a "goodbye and thanks for the memories" situation.
📖 Related: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
The browns last game score matters because it showed that the core of this defense—Garrett, Ward, Delpit—is still elite. They are the only reason this team didn't finish with two wins instead of five.
If you’re a fan, the focus now shifts entirely to the draft and the coaching search. You have a rookie quarterback who showed flashes of late-game composure but needs a lot of help. You have a record-setting defensive end in his prime.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Watch the Coaching Search: The Browns are officially "Head Coach: Vacant." Names like Ben Johnson or even some college ranks might pop up.
- Check the Draft Order: With a 5-12 record, Cleveland is sitting in a prime spot to snag an elite offensive lineman or another weapon for Sanders.
- Myles Garrett's Legacy: Buy the jersey. Twenty-three sacks in a season is legendary stuff that we might not see again for a decade.
The season is over. The 20-18 victory was ugly, beautiful, and confusing all at once. Basically, it was a typical Browns game.
Keep an eye on the NFL Combine in February. That’s where the real work of fixing the 2026 roster actually begins.