Bengals vs Cleveland Browns Match Player Stats: Complete 2025 Season Breakdown, Box Scores & Analysis
If you’ve been searching for a complete breakdown of the bengals vs cleveland browns match player stats from the 2025 NFL season, you’ve landed in the right place. Cincinnati and Cleveland squared off twice in the Battle of Ohio this year — a tense Week 1 opener that the Bengals won by a single point, and a season-ending Week 18 clash that the Browns took in stunning fashion. Both games were defined by elite individual performances, historic moments, and the kind of divisional drama that makes the AFC North one of the most compelling battlegrounds in professional football. This article covers everything: full box scores, position-by-position stat breakdowns, Myles Garrett’s record-shattering moment, rookie performances, fantasy football takeaways, and what it all meant for both franchises heading into the offseason.
Week 1 Recap: Bengals 17, Browns 16 — Defense Wins in Cleveland
On a day when Joe Burrow and the high-powered Cincinnati offense struggled, it was the defense that stepped up and carried the Bengals to their first Week 1 victory since 2021. Footballdb The game was played at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on September 7, 2025, and the final score of 17–16 told only part of the story.
Burrow completed just 14 of 23 passes for 113 yards — the third-fewest passing yards of his six-year career — and threw for one touchdown. Footballdb His top weapons also had quiet outings. Ja’Marr Chase caught just two passes for 26 yards, while Tee Higgins finished with three receptions for 33 yards. Footballdb Tight end Noah Fant, signed during training camp, was Burrow’s most reliable target, hauling in four receptions for 26 yards including a one-yard touchdown catch that proved critical.
On the other side, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco — the eighth quarterback age 40 or older to start an NFL opener — finished with 290 passing yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Footballdb The Browns outgained the Bengals 327–141 in total yards and controlled the ball for nearly 36 minutes, but missed opportunities proved fatal. Footballdb New kicker Andre Szmyt, who had won the kicking competition from Dustin Hopkins in the preseason, missed an extra point and a critical 36-yard field goal attempt in the second half. Footballdb
The Browns’ rookies showed genuine promise in the season opener. Running back Dylan Sampson led the team with 29 rushing yards and added 64 receiving yards on eight catches. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. contributed 63 receiving yards on seven receptions. Cleveland Browns Running back Raheim Sanders punched in Cleveland’s first touchdown of the game on a one-yard rush, and defensive rookie Mason Graham recorded three tackles in his NFL debut. Cleveland Browns
The defining moment came late. In the fourth quarter, with the Bengals pinned deep in their own territory, Myles Garrett penetrated the pocket on back-to-back plays and recorded his first two sacks of the 2025 season. Cleveland Browns But Cleveland’s drive to win the game ended when a pass from Flacco to wide receiver Cedric Tillman bounced off his hands and was intercepted by Bengals cornerback DJ Turner II, who returned it seven yards. Footballdb The Bengals ran out the clock and escaped with the win.
Week 1 Team Stats Comparison
| Stat | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 17 | 16 |
| Total Yards | 141 | 327 |
| Passing Yards | 113 | 290 |
| Time of Possession | ~24 min | ~36 min |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks Allowed | 3 | 2 |
| Field Goals Made | 0/0 | 1/3 |
Week 1 Key Individual Stats
| Player | Team | Stat Line |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | CIN | 14/23, 113 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT |
| Joe Flacco | CLE | 31/45, 290 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| Dylan Sampson | CLE | 8 rec, 64 yds; 29 rush yds |
| Harold Fannin Jr. | CLE | 7 rec, 63 yds |
| Chase Brown | CIN | 1 rush TD (5 yds) |
| Myles Garrett | CLE | 2 sacks |
| DJ Turner II | CIN | 1 INT (returned 7 yds) |
Week 18 Recap: Browns 20, Bengals 18 — History Is Made in Cincinnati
By the time these two teams met again on January 4, 2026, at Paycor Stadium, neither was playing for a playoff spot. The Bengals finished 6–11, the Browns 5–12. But the game itself delivered something far more memorable than the records suggested — a lead that changed hands, three defensive touchdowns, a game-winning field goal, and a moment that rewrote the NFL record books.
Joe Burrow completed 29 of 39 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, adding 17 rushing yards on two carries. Cleveland Browns He connected with all three of his primary targets for scores — Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown — yet it wasn’t enough. Evan McPherson had a rough day, getting one PAT blocked and missing a second, and the Bengals failed to convert a two-point attempt on their final touchdown. Cleveland Browns Those three missed points ended up being the difference in a two-point loss.
The Bengals’ offense capitalized on a short field following a turnover with a four-play, 29-yard drive ending in a four-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to Chase Brown — Burrow’s 155th career scoring pass, which moved him ahead of Carson Palmer for sole possession of fourth on Cincinnati’s all-time list. Pro-Football-Reference
Linebacker Devin Bush recorded Cleveland’s first defensive touchdown, picking off Burrow in the first quarter and returning the tipped pass 97 yards for a pick-six. Cornerback Sam Webb added to the defensive fireworks with a 47-yard scoop-and-score fumble return in the second quarter. NFL These two plays proved to be the backbone of the Browns’ victory.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders led the offense for much of the afternoon, closing out his rookie season with 111 passing yards while completing passes to eight different receivers. He also contributed 26 rushing yards, while running back Dylan Sampson led the team on the ground with 32 rushing yards. NFL
With 2:41 left and Cleveland holding a five-point lead, Burrow orchestrated a drive that featured 38 yards across two plays to Chase and Higgins before lofting a touchdown pass into the end zone to Ja’Marr Chase, giving Cincinnati an 18–17 lead. Needing two points to put the game out of reach of a field goal, the Bengals went for the conversion — but safety Grant Delpit broke up the pass. NFL
Andre Szmyt then drilled a 49-yard field goal as time expired to seal the win for Cleveland.
Week 18 Team Stats Comparison
| Stat | Cleveland Browns | Cincinnati Bengals |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 20 | 18 |
| Passing Yards (QB) | 111 (Sanders) | 236 (Burrow) |
| Rushing Yards | 58+ | 100+ |
| Turnovers Forced | 1 | 1 |
| Defensive TDs | 2 | 0 |
| Field Goals | 2/2 (Szmyt) | 0/2 (McPherson) |
| Sacks | 3 (incl. Garrett’s historic #23) | 2 |
Week 18 Key Individual Stats
| Player | Team | Stat Line |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | CIN | 29/39, 236 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Shedeur Sanders | CLE | 111 pass yds, 8 completions, 26 rush yds |
| Ja’Marr Chase | CIN | Key TD reception late |
| Tee Higgins | CIN | 38-yd contribution in final drive |
| Chase Brown | CIN | Rush + receiving TD; 10th career receiving TD |
| Dylan Sampson | CLE | 32 rush yds (team leader) |
| Devin Bush | CLE | 14 tackles, 1 INT returned 97 yds for TD |
| Sam Webb | CLE | 47-yd fumble return TD |
| Myles Garrett | CLE | 1 sack (23rd of season — NFL record) |
| Andre Szmyt | CLE | Game-winning 49-yd FG |
Myles Garrett’s Historic Sack Record: The Moment That Defined the Season
No single story from either of these 2025 matchups carries more weight than what Myles Garrett accomplished in the fourth quarter of Week 18. With the Bengals driving at the Cleveland 45-yard line in the fourth quarter with a fresh set of downs, Garrett curled around the blocker and brought down Joe Burrow for his 23rd sack of the season, setting the NFL’s all-time single-season sack record. NFL
To put that number in context, the previous official record was held by Michael Strahan, who recorded 22.5 sacks during the 2001 season. T.J. Watt tied that mark in 2021. Garrett didn’t just match them — he surpassed both with a performance that spanned an entire season of relentless pressure and historic dominance. He also added two quarterback hits on the day, meaning his impact on the game went beyond the record itself. NFL
The sack set the Bengals back six yards and ultimately killed Cincinnati’s momentum on a drive that had the potential to give them the lead. Burrow’s next two plays — a short completion and an incomplete pass — forced a punt, and Cleveland never gave the ball back until Burrow’s final scoring drive. NFL In other words, Garrett’s historic sack didn’t just break a record. It may well have decided the outcome of the game.
For a player who spent much of the 2025 season on a team going nowhere in the standings, Garrett’s individual achievement stands as one of the most impressive statistical seasons in NFL defensive history.
Rookie Watch: Shedeur Sanders and Harold Fannin Jr.
One of the most compelling subplots across both Battle of Ohio games was the performance of Cleveland’s rookie class. Both in Week 1 and Week 18, first-year players made significant contributions despite the team’s difficult season.
In Week 1, Harold Fannin Jr. immediately established himself as a reliable weapon, finishing behind only Dylan Sampson in receiving yards with 63 yards on seven catches. Cleveland Browns His ability to get open against a Bengals secondary drew attention from evaluators around the league as a sign of things to come.
In Week 18, the focus shifted to Shedeur Sanders. The rookie quarterback closed his first professional season by completing passes to eight different receivers, demonstrating the accuracy and pocket awareness that made him a top draft prospect. NFL While his raw numbers were modest given the game script, his willingness to distribute the ball and his 26 rushing yards showed the dual-threat dimension Cleveland’s offense will lean on going forward.
Defensively, first-round pick Mason Graham made his presence felt in the opener with three tackles, showing the interior disruption the Browns drafted him to provide. Cleveland Browns These rookies, across both games, gave Browns fans something to watch beyond the win-loss record.
Chase Brown’s Quiet Dominance for Cincinnati
While Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins naturally attract headlines, running back Chase Brown quietly put together one of the best individual series of any skill player in either match. In Week 18, Brown scored a touchdown both through the air and on the ground, bringing his season total to 11 touchdowns — matching his career high from the previous year. He also scored eight touchdowns over the final five games of the season, the most in the NFL since Week 14. Pro-Football-Reference
Brown’s receiving touchdown in the Week 18 loss marked his 10th career receiving score and his fifth of the season — a new career high. Pro-Football-Reference For fantasy managers who held onto Brown through Burrow’s mid-season injury, the stretch-run production was a genuine lifeline. His combination of goal-line work and receiving contributions out of the backfield made him one of the more consistent fantasy performers in either AFC North contest this season.
Fantasy Football Takeaways from Both Bengals-Browns Matchups
These two games offered some genuinely useful data points for fantasy managers looking ahead to 2026 drafts and offseason analysis.
In Week 1, the clear fantasy winners on Cincinnati’s side were the defensive players — Turner’s interception and the unit’s second-half shutdown were fantasy gold in defensive leagues. On offense, the Bengals were a disappointment. Burrow’s 113-yard game was a stark reminder that the Browns’ defensive scheme, even with a veteran quarterback under center, can completely suppress Cincinnati’s passing attack. Footballdb Chase and Higgins owners were left frustrated.
Week 18 told a more complete story for Bengals skill players. Burrow’s 29-of-39 performance for three scores was a strong fantasy outing, and Chase’s late go-ahead touchdown provided real flex value. Burrow ended the season having completed 72.3 percent of his passes with a 13:5 TD-to-interception ratio over the final five games while averaging 271.8 passing yards per contest Cleveland Browns — numbers that reaffirm his elite status when healthy.
For Cleveland, Devin Bush’s 97-yard interception return was the single biggest fantasy play of either game. In IDP leagues especially, that kind of big-play production at linebacker is rare and valuable. Dylan Sampson’s consistency as a receiver out of the backfield — demonstrated in both Week 1 and Week 18 — also makes him an interesting late-round target heading into next season.
Head-to-Head and Rivalry Context: Bengals vs Browns in 2025
The 2025 season ended with the Browns winning the season series one game to one — a split that accurately reflected how close these teams were despite their losing records. Both games were decided by two points or fewer, and both featured moments where either team could have won.
The Browns finished the 2025 campaign at 5–12, while the Bengals finished at 6–11. NFL In the AFC North standings, the Pittsburgh Steelers led the division at 10–7, followed by the Baltimore Ravens at 8–9. Both the Bengals and Browns finished at the bottom of the division, but the Battle of Ohio remained as competitive as ever regardless of the records attached to it.
Historically, this rivalry has produced some of the most evenly contested divisional games in the AFC North. In 2025, it produced two of the year’s most dramatic single-possession finishes — a missed field goal in Cleveland in September and a failed two-point conversion in Cincinnati in January. That is the Battle of Ohio in its purest form.
Postgame Reaction: What the Players Said
Head coach Zac Taylor addressed the Week 18 loss by acknowledging how close the Bengals had come: “Several times we had games where we played well in different areas and we just hadn’t found a way to put it all together. This is one we needed to finish off. It comes down to a play at the end in a one-score game, and we just weren’t able to finish it off.” Pro-Football-Reference
Joe Burrow was reflective about his 2025 season, saying: “I’m really proud of what I did this year. I came back from an injury faster than any human ever has. I’m really proud of that. I played some really good football when back.” Pro-Football-Reference
Conclusion
The 2025 NFL season gave football fans two unforgettable installments of the Bengals vs Browns rivalry. Week 1 was a defensive masterclass from Cincinnati in which Burrow’s supporting cast kept the Bengals alive despite a historically quiet statistical day. Week 18 was defined by Myles Garrett rewriting the record books, three defensive touchdowns, a failed two-point try, and one of the most clutch field goals of the season. Looking at the bengals vs cleveland browns match player stats across both contests, a few truths emerge clearly: Cleveland’s defense is capable of shutting down elite quarterbacks when the scheme is right, Joe Burrow’s late-season form is as dangerous as any quarterback in the league, and this rivalry will continue to produce genuinely competitive football regardless of standings. With Shedeur Sanders developing, Garrett entering his prime, and Burrow returning fully healthy, 2026 promises more of the same — and probably another two games decided by the finest of margins.
FAQ — Bengals vs Browns Player Stats 2025
What were Joe Burrow’s stats against the Browns in 2025?
Burrow faced the Browns twice in 2025. In Week 1, he completed 14 of 23 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown in a 17–16 Bengals win. In Week 18, he was significantly sharper, going 29 of 39 for 236 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in an 18–20 loss. His best statistical game of the two came in the season finale, where he connected with Chase, Higgins, and Chase Brown for scores before Cleveland’s defense made the game-winning stop on the two-point conversion.
Did Myles Garrett break the NFL single-season sack record against the Bengals?
Yes. Garrett recorded his 23rd sack of the 2025 season by bringing down Joe Burrow in the fourth quarter of the Week 18 game, surpassing the previous record of 22.5 set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and tied by T.J. Watt in 2021. The record-breaking moment came at a pivotal point in the game and directly contributed to stalling a Bengals scoring drive.
What were Shedeur Sanders’ stats vs the Bengals in Week 18?
The Browns rookie quarterback completed passes to eight different receivers for 111 passing yards in what was his season finale. He also added 26 rushing yards. While the numbers were modest, his even distribution and mobility gave Cleveland a credible offensive presence alongside the team’s two defensive touchdowns and a game-winning field goal.
Who scored the most touchdowns in the Bengals vs Browns matchups in 2025?
Chase Brown was the most consistent touchdown producer for Cincinnati across both games, scoring a rushing and receiving touchdown in Week 18 and contributing a score in Week 1. Defensively for Cleveland, Devin Bush and Sam Webb each scored touchdowns on interception and fumble returns respectively in Week 18, making the Browns’ defense the highest-scoring unit across the two games combined.
What were Ja’Marr Chase’s stats against the Browns in 2025?
Chase had a quiet Week 1, catching just two passes for 26 yards. In Week 18, he was more impactful, contributing to the final drive with a key reception and finishing with a go-ahead touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter that briefly gave Cincinnati the lead before the two-point conversion failed.
For more quality, informative content, visit writewhiz
