The Bengals’ final home game offers a chance to end their season on a three-game win streak, while Myles Garrett’s pursuit of the NFL single-season sack record adds drama to a rivalry that began with a Week 1 thriller.
Two AFC North rivals who clashed in Week 1 will also finish the season together Sunday as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals escaped with a 17-16 win in Cleveland in the opener when Browns rookie kicker Andre Szmyt missed an extra point and a 36-yard field goal. Cleveland started current Cincinnati backup Joe Flacco in that game.
The Bengals (6-10) aim to close out the regular season with their first three-game winning streak of the season after blowout wins over Miami and Arizona in the past two weeks. The 45-21 victory in Week 16 at Miami followed by the 37-14 romp in Week 17 against Arizona at home marked the first time the Bengals won back-to-back games by 20-plus points since Weeks 6-7 in 2021.
Cincinnati’s offense has exploded in the last two weeks, earning season highs in first downs (29) and total yards (429) against Arizona. On defense, the Bengals tallied four sacks and held the Cardinals to 42 yards rushing. Still, it has been a massively disappointing season for head coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals, who lost Joe Burrow for nine games to a turf toe injury in a Week 2 win.
“We have to finish this off the right way,” Taylor said. “All we can control right now is what we’ve got in front of us. There’s one game left. We’ve got to go finish this thing the right way like these guys have been doing for us. It’s important to play well in front of our home fans and finish this out the right way.”
The Browns (4-12) arrive in Cincinnati after their most emotional win of the season, a 13-6 defeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday in their home finale in Cleveland. The biggest storyline for the Browns continues to be edge rusher Myles Garrett and his pursuit of the NFL single-season sack record. He couldn’t add to his 22 sacks against the Steelers, so Garrett still needs just one to pass the 22.5 sacks of Michael Strahan in 2001 and T.J. Watt in 2021.
Garrett said after Sunday’s win that Pittsburgh did everything it could to keep him from breaking the record shared by one of its own stars, even to the detriment of winning the game. Garrett traditionally has enjoyed big games against Burrow and the Bengals, which includes two sacks in the season opener. Garrett’s 15 sacks against Cincinnati (in 13 games) are the most in his career against any opponent.
Shedeur Sanders improved to 2-4 as Cleveland’s starting quarterback, completing 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. In seven appearances this season, Sanders has thrown seven touchdowns but has been intercepted 10 times.
“Just staying consistent, taking what they give me,” Sanders said. “Whenever we get off rhythm, get back on rhythm, get back on track. And I think that’s the next part of my game I’m trying to evolve, is whenever either we’re stagnant or some adversity comes, being able to get back on track.”
Sanders said he is blocking out all the noise regarding his future in Cleveland as the starting quarterback going forward.
“I can’t think about what other people’s opinion or what they view me as,” Sanders added. “I know the teams that we go against, I know they definitely respect me in a passing game, for sure, but I can’t be accountable for somebody else’s decisions.”
One thing not in Sanders’ favor will be the absence of perhaps his favorite target, Harold Fannin Jr. The rookie tight end, who has caught four of his six touchdowns since Sanders took over, will miss the game because of a groin injury. David Njoku, the incumbent starting tight end at the beginning of the season, will miss his fourth straight game because of a knee injury. Quad and ankle injuries will force linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, to miss a game for the first time.
For the Bengals, running back Chase Brown practiced in full Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday with an illness. He no longer carries an injury designation.
Garrett’s pursuit of the record is not just about stats — it’s about legacy. His 22.5 sacks would surpass T.J. Watt’s 2021 mark, a feat that would make him the first player since Strahan to break the 22.5 barrier. The Browns’ defense has been a fortress against the run, but their ability to pressure quarterbacks has been their greatest weapon this season. With the Browns’ offense struggling to find rhythm, Garrett’s dominance will be on full display — and the Bengals’ offensive line will be tested like never before.
The Bengals’ win streak is more than just a statistical footnote — it’s a statement of resilience. After losing Burrow for nine games, the team has rallied around Zac Taylor’s leadership and the emergence of rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who has shown flashes of brilliance. The win over Arizona was a masterclass in execution — the offense moved the ball with precision, the defense forced turnovers, and the special teams delivered key stops. This game against the Browns will be the ultimate test: can they replicate that energy against a team that has been fighting to stay alive all season?
For fans, this matchup is a chance to witness history. Garrett’s pursuit of the record is a narrative that transcends the standings — it’s about the chase, the grit, and the pressure of being the best. Meanwhile, the Bengals’ quest for a winning streak is a story of redemption, of proving that even in the face of adversity, they can still compete at the highest level. The stage is set for a showdown that will define the final chapter of both teams’ seasons.
As the clock ticks down on the regular season, the Bengals’ fans are hopeful. They’ve seen their team fight through injuries, come back from losses, and find new ways to win. This game is not just about the record books — it’s about pride, about legacy, and about finishing strong. The Browns’ fans, meanwhile, are watching with bated breath — their team has a chance to end the season on a high note, but they’ll need to overcome a defense that’s been consistently elite and a quarterback who’s still learning his way around the NFL.
For the Bengals, the stakes are clear: a win means a three-game winning streak, a statement of resilience, and a chance to end the season on a high note. For the Browns, it’s about Garrett’s legacy — and whether the team can rally around him to break the record. The game will be a clash of styles, of personalities, and of narratives — and the outcome will be remembered for years to come.
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