Myles Garrett eyes a historic sack while a Kevin Stefanski's Cleveland Browns future hangs in the balance against Cincinnati Bengals
The battle of Ohio takes center stage in Week 18 for all the wrong reasons. Instead of playing for postseason positioning, the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in the bottom half of the AFC North, with coaches jobs at stake.
It feels pretty certain that Kevin Stefanski is coaching his final game in Cleveland. It's less likely for Zac Taylor is on his way out of Cincinnati, but there's at least a conversation there.
On the field, it's a rematch from Week 1, where the Bengals came out on top by a single point (17-16) after Browns' rookie kicker Andre Szmyt missed a FG. In that sense it's a shot at redemption for him and Cleveland.
This time around though, the Browns can't bank on a slow start from their in-state rival. Cincy's offense is rolling right now, having scoring 30-plus points in four of its last five games, including 82 in the last two weeks.
That unit is rolling, but it lines up across from the unit Mike Tomlin dubbed the best in the entire division on both sides of the ball. Cleveland's defense shut down the Steelers offense a week ago, and has done the same to more formidable offenses this season, led by Myles Garrett, who needs just one sack to establish a new single-season record.
Can he get there? Here are our predictions for Week 18
Anthony Meoglin's Prediction
Only four quarters left of what has been another miserable season in Cleveland and the misery is almost over.
This game is all too familiar for these teams. Both franchises were hoping for good seasons (the definition of good was different for each), but instead, each team faced plenty of disappointment in 2025.
At this point all I care about is Myles Garrett getting his sack to set the record. Last week against Pittsburgh was such a bummer for him to fall short, but it does sound like Joe Burrow isn’t going to take the Aaron Rodgers approach that we saw last week.
Winning is probably not in the best interest for the future of the Browns, but football is always about winning for the guys on the field.
Shedeur Sanders plays well, the Browns intercept Burrow once, Myles gets his sack, and the final game of the season is a winner, and likely a parting gift from Kevin Stefanski, depending on perspective.
Browns 23, Bengals 20
Spencer German's Prediction
We know the score at this stage of the season. Kevin Stefanski is very likely coaching his final game for the Browns. Shedeur Sanders is trying to make a final statement about his readiness to be the team's franchise QB next season and beyond. Cleveland is also going into this division showdown extremely short-handed, with rookies Harold Fannin Jr. and Carson Schwesinger officially sidelined, ending their seasons.
Such is life in Week 18 of the NFL season for a losing team. The Bengals are more than touchdown favorites for a reason. The odds are stacked against Stefanski's squad, which may be exactly why they shouldn't be underestimated, especially in an AFC North clash.
It was obvious last week during the team's 13-6 win over the Steelers that the players are still giving effort for Stefanski. I'm sure he'd love nothing more than to punctuate his Browns tenure with a win and maybe, just maybe give the Haslams something to think about as the contemplate change.
Im retrospect, a win probably doesn't change much, but you never know. Either way, I think there may be too much to overcome, especially against a red hot Bengals' offense. Myles Garrett does get to Joe Burrow twicd to finish off the sack record, though
Bengals 27, Browns 20