If you're asking about the cleveland browns football score, you're likely looking for the result of the January 4 finale. The Browns managed to pull off a 20-18 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. It wasn't exactly a masterpiece, but in the AFC North, a win is a win. Especially when it happens at Paycor Stadium.
Honestly, the season was a bit of a rollercoaster. Most fans are still processing the fact that the team finished 5-12. It’s a weird feeling to end on a high note while the front office is simultaneously cleaning house.
That Final Cleveland Browns Football Score and the Chaos After
The 20-18 win over Cincinnati wasn't just a random Week 18 box score. It was the final game of the Kevin Stefanski era. Just a day after that game, the news broke that Stefanski was out after six seasons. It’s sort of wild how quickly things move in this league. One day you’re celebrating a divisional win, the next you’re looking for a new head coach.
Right now, the team is deep in the interview process. As of mid-January 2026, they've been talking to Mike McDaniel, who was recently let go by the Dolphins. They also looked at Jim Schwartz, the current defensive coordinator, and Todd Monken. It's a busy time in Berea.
How the Season Actually Played Out
Let’s look at the numbers. They aren't pretty, but they tell the story.
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- Final Record: 5-12
- Division Standing: 4th in the AFC North
- The High Point: A 31-6 blowout against Miami in October.
- The Low Point: That brutal 31-3 loss to Chicago in December.
The offense struggled to find its identity all year. We saw a lot of rookies getting reps. In fact, over 80% of the team's total yards came from rookies. That’s a stat you don’t see every day. Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel handled the bulk of the passing, with Sanders leading the way at 1,400 yards.
What the Scoreboard Didn't Show
While the cleveland browns football score often looked disappointing on Sunday afternoons, there were bright spots if you looked closely. Myles Garrett broke the NFL single-season sack record. Think about that for a second. In a season where the team only won five games, you had a guy playing at a historic, Hall-of-Fame level.
The defense, led by Schwartz, actually held its own. They allowed the fourth-fewest total yards in the league. The problem was the offense just couldn't stay on the field. They were bottom-six in almost every major offensive category.
Why the Draft is the New Focus
Now that the season is over, the focus shifts from the cleveland browns football score to the draft board. Because of some previous trades—specifically the one involving Travis Hunter—the Browns actually have two first-round picks this year. They have their own and one from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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The Jaguars’ recent loss in the Wild Card round actually helped Cleveland’s draft position. It’s one of those "silver lining" situations that Browns fans have become very familiar with over the decades.
Key Personnel Changes Already Happening
The team isn't just waiting for the draft, though. They’ve already started signing guys to reserve/future contracts. We’re talking about names like:
- Sal Cannella (Tight End)
- Tyre Phillips (Tackle)
- Luke Floriea (Wide Receiver)
- Ahmani Marshall (Running Back)
These aren't "flashy" signings, but they are the guys who fill out the roster for training camp. It’s the first step in trying to fix the consistency issues that Cedric Tillman and others talked about during locker room clean-outs.
Looking Ahead to 2026
So, what’s next? The 2026 opponents are already set. The Browns will have to face the usual AFC North gauntlet, but the coaching search is the real story right now. If they land someone like McDaniel, the offense could look completely different by September.
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The disconnect between a top-tier defense and a struggling offense was the theme of the 2025 season. Fixing that is the only way to make sure the cleveland browns football score looks a lot better next year.
If you're keeping track of the roster, watch the free agency window. Guys like Joel Bitonio and David Njoku are heading into uncertain territory. The "120 days" plan mentioned by owner Jimmy Haslam is officially in effect. It's basically a total reset of the organizational philosophy.
For those wanting to keep an eye on the future, start scouting the top offensive linemen in the upcoming draft. With several veteran starters hitting free agency or getting older, protecting whoever is under center—whether it's Sanders, Gabriel, or a veteran addition—has to be the priority. You can also track the head coaching interviews daily; the team usually moves fast once they identify their "guy" to avoid losing him to other openings like Atlanta or Tennessee.
Check the official team site for the full list of 2026 home and away opponents, as the schedule rotation will bring some heavy hitters to Huntington Bank Field this fall.