If you're frantically refreshing your feed to see the score of the Cincinnati Bengals game, I’ve got the news, but it isn't exactly what the Jungle was hoping for today. Honestly, it was a heartbreaker at Paycor Stadium.
The final score? Cleveland Browns 20, Cincinnati Bengals 18.
It was a cold one in Cincy for this regular-season finale on January 4, 2026. The Bengals actually had this thing in their grasp. Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a 4-yard touchdown with only 1:29 left on the clock. That put the Bengals up 18-17. You could feel the energy through the screen. But then, things got messy.
The Bengals Score Breakdown: A Wild Season Finale
Cleveland’s rookie kicker, Andre Szmyt, ended up being the hero for the visitors. As time expired, he nailed a 4-yard field goal—wait, let me get that right—it was a 49-yard field goal that split the uprights as the clock hit zero. Bengals fans have seen this movie before, and the ending usually stings.
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What’s wild is how the Bengals lost this one despite outgaining the Browns significantly. Look at these stats:
- Total Yards: Bengals 364, Browns 200.
- First Downs: Bengals 24, Browns 11.
- Time of Possession: Bengals controlled the ball for over 35 minutes.
So, how do you lose a game where you have double the first downs? Errors. Pure and simple. Joe Burrow was 29 of 39 for 236 yards and three touchdowns, but a costly interception returned 97 yards for a touchdown by Devin Bush Jr. turned the tide early. Then there was a fumble returned for another Browns touchdown. Basically, the Bengals gave away 14 points on defensive scores.
Why the Cincinnati Bengals Score Stayed Low
It wasn't just the turnovers. Usually, you can count on Evan "Money" McPherson, but he had a rough afternoon. He missed two extra-point attempts—one was blocked and one just sailed wide. In a two-point loss, those are the points that haunt you.
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Joe Burrow didn't sugarcoat it after the game. He mentioned that the team "beat themselves" with mental errors and false starts. It was a sloppy performance for a team that had shown flashes of brilliance earlier in the month, like that 45-21 blowout against Miami.
Where the Bengals Stand Now
This loss leaves the Bengals with a 6-11 record to finish the 2025-2026 season. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that has had such high expectations lately. They’ll finish third in the AFC North, just ahead of the Browns (5-12) but behind the Steelers and Ravens.
Because of this finish, the Bengals aren't heading to the playoffs this year. While the Bills and Broncos are duking it out in the Divisional Round today, January 17, the Bengals are already looking toward the 2026 NFL Draft. They’ve secured the 10th overall pick, which gives them a real shot at some elite talent to protect Burrow or add another weapon to the mix.
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Key Performance Notes
- Chase Brown: He surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season during this game. He finished the day with 72 yards on 13 carries.
- Ja'Marr Chase: He caught 8 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. He also passed Tyler Boyd on the Bengals' all-time receptions list.
- Myles Garrett: On the other side of the ball, Garrett broke the NFL single-season sack record by taking down Burrow in the fourth quarter.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The schedule for next season is already starting to take shape. Since the Bengals finished third, they are slated to play a "third-place schedule." This means they’ll be hosting the Kansas City Chiefs at Paycor Stadium in 2026, which is always a massive draw. They also have matchups lined up against the Saints and the Buccaneers.
If you are tracking the team's progress, the focus now shifts entirely to the offseason. The front office has some big decisions to make regarding the roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball where they struggled to get off the field in critical moments this year.
To stay ahead of the next season, you should keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in February. This will be the first real look at how the Bengals might use that 10th overall pick to fix the holes exposed during this 6-11 campaign. You can also expect the full 2026 schedule to be released sometime in May, which will give us the actual dates for those big home games against the Chiefs and Steelers.