You're probably searching for the Cleveland Browns score because you missed the chaotic finish to their season or you're just checking in on the damage. Honestly, being a Browns fan is kinda like a full-time job where the pay is mostly in heartbreak and the occasional, confusing rush of dopamine.
The Browns wrapped up their 2025-26 regular season on January 4, 2026, with a final score of Cleveland 20, Cincinnati 18.
It was a weird game. Actually, "weird" doesn't quite cover it. The Browns were already eliminated from the playoffs weeks ago—finishing the year with a dismal 5-12 record—but they managed to ruin the Bengals' day anyway. It was one of those games where the box score tells a completely different story than the actual highlights.
The Game That Ended the Season (and a Record)
If you just look at the final Cleveland Browns score of 20-18, you see a win. But man, the way they got there was pure Cleveland. The defense actually did all the heavy lifting early on. We’re talking two defensive touchdowns before the offense even woke up.
Devin Bush Jr. picked off Joe Burrow and took it 97 yards to the house in the first quarter. Then Sam Webb decided to join the party with a 47-yard fumble return for another TD in the second.
Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders—who has been under a microscope all season—was struggling to move the chains. He finished 11 of 22 for just 111 yards. Not exactly "future of the franchise" numbers, but he did just enough at the very end.
The real story of that afternoon in Cincinnati wasn't just the score, though. It was Myles Garrett. With about four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Garrett sacked Burrow for a 6-yard loss. That was sack number 23 for him on the season.
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He did it. He officially broke the NFL single-season sack record previously shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Even in a 5-12 season, Garrett remains the one absolute, undeniable bright spot in that locker room.
How the Final Score Was Settled
After Ja'Marr Chase caught a 4-yard TD pass to put the Bengals up 18-17 with only 1:29 left, most Browns fans probably thought, "Here we go again."
But then Sanders found a little rhythm. He connected with Isaiah Bond for a 13-yard gain on 3rd-and-10, then hit Jerry Jeudy for another 11 yards to get the team into field goal range.
Enter Andre Szmyt.
Szmyt had a rough start to the year—he actually missed a kick that cost them the Week 1 game against these same Bengals—but he nailed a 49-yarder as time expired.
Final: 20-18.
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It gave Cleveland two straight wins to end the year, which is basically the football equivalent of finding a five-dollar bill in your pocket after your car just got towed. It feels good, but you’re still in a hole.
Why the Browns Score Matters Less Than the 5-12 Record
Let’s be real for a second. Winning that last game didn't save Kevin Stefanski’s job. The rumors had been swirling for months, and shortly after the season ended, the "finality" of the era became pretty clear.
The Browns finished 4th in the AFC North. Again.
When people ask "what is the Cleveland Browns score" over the course of the 2025 season, the numbers are pretty depressing. They averaged 16.4 points per game. That’s 31st out of 32 teams in the NFL. You can’t win in this league if you can't put up more than two touchdowns a game, period.
The defense, led by Jim Schwartz, actually held up their end of the bargain most of the time. They were ranked 14th in points against, which isn't elite, but it's "playoff-caliber" if your offense isn't a total disaster.
A Season of Lows
If you want to understand why the fan base is so frustrated, look at these specific results from the 2025 stretch:
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- A 31-3 blowout loss to the Chicago Bears in mid-December.
- A 26-8 loss to the 49ers where the offense looked like it was playing in slow motion.
- A painful 21-17 loss to the Vikings all the way back in London.
The 2025-26 season was a series of "almosts" and "not-evens." By the time December 7 rolled around and they lost 31-29 to the Titans, they were mathematically eliminated. The final two wins against the Steelers (13-6) and Bengals (20-18) were essentially pride games.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Last Place" Finish
There is a silver lining to finishing 5-12 and sitting in the basement of the AFC North.
Because the Browns finished in last place, their 2026 schedule is technically "easier." In the NFL, the schedule is partially determined by where you finish in the standings.
For 2026, the Browns will face the other last-place teams from the AFC and NFC. This means they get matchups against teams like the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets instead of the heavy hitters like the Chiefs or the Bills.
Also, they get a high draft pick. Currently, they are slated for the 6th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. After the Deshaun Watson era finally, mercifully ended, the team is desperate for a reset. Whether that means doubling down on Sanders or looking at a fresh face in the draft is the million-dollar question in Cleveland right now.
Actionable Insights for Browns Fans Moving Forward
If you're keeping track of the Cleveland Browns score and wondering what to do with your Sunday afternoons now that the season is over, here is the reality:
- Watch the Draft Order: The Browns have the 6th pick. Keep an eye on the scouting reports for offensive tackles and wide receivers. They desperately need to protect whoever is under center next year.
- Cap Space Shenanigans: The front office has some massive decisions to make. They are facing a bit of a "cap crunch," and players like Denzel Ward or other Pro Bowlers might be on the trade block to free up money.
- Coach Search: The era of Kevin Stefanski appears to be over. If you're a betting person, keep an eye on the "offensive guru" types currently in the coordinator ranks around the league. The Browns need a spark on that side of the ball.
- Myles Garrett's Legacy: Buy the jersey now if you haven't. Breaking the sack record in a year where the rest of the team struggled is legendary. He is the heart and soul of the city right now.
The 2025-26 season is officially in the books. The final Cleveland Browns score was a 20-18 victory, a small consolation prize for a year that most of Cleveland would probably like to forget. But as every Browns fan has said since 1999: there's always next year. And with a last-place schedule and a top-10 draft pick, next year might actually suck a little bit less.