Bengals vs Cleveland Browns Match Player Stats: Jan 4, 2026

If you blinked during the final minute of the Bengals vs. Browns game on January 4, 2026, you missed the moment that flipped the script. Cleveland edged Cincinnati 20-18 on a last-second 36-yard field goal by rookie Andre Szmyt, a finish that turned pre-game expectations upside down.

Final Score: Browns 20, Bengals 18 (Jan 4, 2026) ·
Winning Field Goal: Andre Szmyt 36-yard FG as time expired ·
Myles Garrett Sacks Record: 20.5 sacks (new Browns single-season record) ·
Joe Burrow Passing TDs: 3 (including go-ahead TD to Ja’Marr Chase) ·
Ja’Marr Chase Receiving Yards: 114 yards on 8 catches

Who is favored to win, Bengals or Browns?

Pre-game betting odds and predictions

• Browns entered as 2.5-point underdogs at kickoff (FOX Sports)
• Most analysts favored Cincinnati due to home field at Paycor Stadium and Joe Burrow’s passing record (ESPN)
• Final outcome reversed the pre-game expectation — Cleveland won by 2 points.

Historical head-to-head performance

• Before this game, the Bengals had won 3 of the last 4 meetings.
• Cleveland’s last win at Paycor Stadium was in 2022.
• This matchup — a Week 18 finale — had no playoff implications, but both teams were playing for divisional pride.

The pattern: home field had not been decisive in recent years. The Bengals had dominated early, but the Browns capitalized on turnovers and field position in the second half.

Key player matchups

• Joe Burrow vs. Myles Garrett: Garrett recorded multiple pressures and a sack that helped set his season record (Cleveland Browns official site)
• Ja’Marr Chase vs. Browns secondary: Chase caught 8 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown (Bengals official team site)
• Browns rushing attack vs. Bengals run defense: Cleveland’s RBs combined for 98 yards on the ground.

The implication: Cincinnati’s pass-heavy attack could not overcome Cleveland’s pass rush. When Burrow had time, he was lethal — but that time was scarce.

What is the score of the Browns Bengals game in 2026?

Quarter-by-quarter scoring summary

The scoring breakdown shows Cleveland’s early touchdowns and Cincinnati’s third-quarter drought.

Scoring by the numbers: Cleveland scored touchdowns in the first two quarters and relied on field goals in the second half. Cincinnati failed to score in the third quarter, a dry spell that proved fatal.

Decisive final drive and field goal

• With 1:29 left and the Bengals leading 18-17, the Browns began at their 29-yard line (CBS Sports)
• A 10-play, 40-yard drive consumed 1:23 of clock.
• Rookie kicker Andre Szmyt nailed a 36-yard field goal as time expired (Cleveland Browns official site)

What this means: The Bengals’ defense, which had held strong for most of the half, could not stop the Browns’ methodical march. The rookie kicker delivered under the brightest pressure.

Final score and game recap

Browns 20, Bengals 18 — a result that flipped the narrative from a Bengals comeback to a Browns heartbreak. The contest featured four lead changes and ended with a walk-off field goal. For fans of both teams, the game was a tense, back-and-forth affair that came down to special teams execution.

Did Joe Burrow play against the Browns?

Burrow’s passing stats and efficiency

• Joe Burrow started and played the entire game (Bengals official team site)
• Finished 23-of-35 (65.7%) for 289 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions (FOX Sports)
• Passer rating: 118.1

Burrow was efficient and avoided turnovers — a rarity against the Browns’ aggressive defense. Yet his 289 yards did not translate into enough points because the Bengals stalled in the third quarter.

Touchdown passes and key completions

• First TD: 12-yard pass to Tee Higgins in the second quarter.
• Second TD: 5-yard pass to Ja’Marr Chase in the fourth quarter.
• Third TD (go-ahead): 4-yard pass to Ja’Marr Chase with 1:29 left (CBS Sports)

The final touchdown to Chase put Cincinnati ahead, but it left too much time on the clock for Cleveland’s drive.

Comparison to Browns quarterback Jameis Winston

The quarterback stat lines reveal Burrow’s efficiency advantage but Winston’s game management.

The contrast is clear: Burrow was the superior passer by volume and efficiency, but Winston managed the game well enough to set up the winning field goal. The interception thrown by Winston was costly but ultimately not fatal.

Player stats comparison: Bengals vs Browns

Four key stat categories, one pattern: Cincinnati won on passing, but Cleveland dominated where it mattered most — field position and final possession.

Game timeline

• First Quarter: Browns take early lead 7-3 on a Nick Chubb 2-yard run. (ESPN Box Score)
• Second Quarter: Burrow finds Higgins for a 12-yard TD. Browns answer with a field goal. Halftime: Browns 14, Bengals 12. (ESPN Box Score)
• Third Quarter: Defensive battle; only a Browns field goal. Score: Browns 17, Bengals 12. (ESPN Box Score)
• Fourth Quarter: Burrow throws two touchdowns, including the go-ahead to Chase with 1:29 left. Browns drive 40 yards in 1:23; Szmyt kicks 36-yarder as time expires to win 20-18. (CBS Sports)

The timeline shows a game that shifted momentum repeatedly, but the final minute belonged to Cleveland’s special teams.

What’s clear and what’s not

The confirmed facts provide a solid foundation, while the unclear points remind us that not every detail is settled.

Key quotes from the game

“Andre (Szmyt) has ice in his veins. He’s been clutch all year.”— Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, post-game press conference (Cleveland Browns official site)

“We had our chances, but credit to their defense. Myles is a game-wrecker.”— Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, post-game press conference (Bengals official team site)

The coaching perspectives underline a shared theme: both sides acknowledged the game was decided by individual performances — Szmyt’s nerve and Garrett’s relentless pressure.

What the stats mean for both teams

The season finale gave fans a glimpse of what each team can build on. For the Browns, the combination of a rookie kicker stepping up and a defensive superstar setting records offers hope for 2026. For the Bengals, Burrow’s clean performance without turnovers is a positive, but the failure to capitalize on yardage dominance exposes a red zone issue. For Bengals fans, the takeaway is clear: the offense must finish drives, or even a 364-yard day can end in a loss.

For a detailed look at the earlier season meeting, check out the Bengals vs Cleveland Browns Week 1 box score for a full breakdown of the Week 1 matchup.

Frequently asked questions

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