It’s been a rough ride for the Who Dey nation lately. If you’re checking your phone and wondering what was the bengals score from their latest outing, I hope you’re sitting down. The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up their 2025-2026 regular season with a stinging 20-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns on January 4, 2026.
That hurts. It hurts because it was right there. At Paycor Stadium, under the grey Cincinnati sky, the Bengals actually took the lead with only 1:29 left on the clock. Joe Burrow found Ja'Marr Chase for a 4-yard touchdown, making it 18-17. The stadium was electric. Then, the defense collapsed. Cleveland’s Andre Szmyt nailed a 49-yard field goal as time expired.
Game over. Season over.
The Reality of the Bengals Last Game
Honestly, the scoreline doesn't even tell the full story of how chaotic this game was. It was a mess of missed opportunities and special teams blunders. Evan McPherson, usually the "Money" man, had a nightmare of a day. He missed two extra points. If he hits just one of those, we aren't even talking about a last-second field goal loss.
The Bengals finished the season at 6-11.
💡 You might also like: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
That is a far cry from the Super Bowl expectations fans had back in August. It’s the kind of record that makes you look at the roster and wonder where the "magic" went. Joe Burrow threw for three touchdowns against the Browns, but he also threw a pick-six to Devin Bush Jr. that went 97 yards the other way. You can't win in the NFL when you're giving away 14 points on turnovers and missed kicks.
A Season of Streaks and Slumps
When people ask what was the bengals score for most of this year, the answer was usually "not enough." The season started with so much promise. They actually beat these same Browns 17-16 in Week 1. They beat the Jaguars in Week 2. They were 2-0!
Then the wheels fell off.
A four-game losing streak followed. They lost to the Vikings, Broncos, Lions, and Packers. Some of those weren't even close. Getting blown out 48-10 by Minnesota was a wake-up call that nobody wanted to hear. They had a brief flicker of life in late December, beating the Dolphins 45-21 and the Cardinals 37-14. It felt like maybe, just maybe, they were figuring it out. But that Week 18 loss to Cleveland buried any momentum heading into the offseason.
📖 Related: South Carolina women's basketball schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the Score Matters for the 2026 Draft
Because the Bengals lost that final game, their draft position is locked in. Since they aren't in the playoffs—which started on January 10 without them—the front office is already looking at the scouting reports.
- They finished 3rd in the AFC North.
- They are officially out of the postseason hunt.
- The offensive line still looks like a construction zone in progress.
It’s frustrating to watch a talent like Ja'Marr Chase rack up 132 yards in a game like the one against the Ravens in December only for the team to lose 24-0. Yeah, they got shut out by Baltimore at home. That was probably the low point of the entire year. Burrow looked human, the defense looked tired, and the fans looked like they wanted to go home by halftime.
Breaking Down the Stats
If you look at the final box score from the Browns game, the Bengals actually out-gained Cleveland. They had more first downs. They had the ball for nearly 30 minutes. But football is a game of moments, and Cleveland’s Sam Webb returning a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter was a moment the Bengals never truly recovered from.
They played "prevent" defense on the final drive, and it prevented nothing. Andre Szmyt, who had missed a kick against them in Week 1, became the hero for Cleveland. It's a bitter pill.
👉 See also: Scores of the NBA games tonight: Why the London Game changed everything
What's Next for Cincinnati?
The 2025-2026 campaign is in the books. Now, the conversation shifts from "what was the score" to "who are we cutting?" Zac Taylor is under the microscope. The defense needs a massive infusion of speed, especially in the secondary.
The playoffs are currently happening. The Broncos and Seahawks are the top seeds, and the Bengals are watching from the couch. If you want to see a turnaround in 2026, the team has to address the inconsistency. You can't beat the Ravens 32-14 in one month and then get shut out by them the next.
Actionable Insights for Bengals Fans:
- Monitor the Draft: With a 6-11 record, the Bengals will have a top-10 pick. Watch for them to target interior defensive linemen or a blue-chip tackle.
- Watch the Coaching Staff: Keep an eye on local reports regarding defensive coordinator changes; the late-game collapses were a recurring theme.
- Offseason Health: Joe Burrow finished the season healthy, which is the only real "win" of the year. His recovery and full offseason program will be the centerpiece of the 2026 hype.
The season didn't end with a bang, but with a 49-yard kick that sailed through the uprights at the buzzer. 18 to 20. That's the number that will haunt Cincy until the preseason kicks off again.