Cleveland Browns 20-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals was one hell of a closing argument from head coach Kevin Stefanski
All signs point to the Cleveland Browns moving on from head Kevin Stefanski at some point in the next 24 hours or so. If so, Sunday's thrilling 20-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals was a pretty good closing argument from the six-year head man.
Perhaps it even gave those in charge something to think about before the clock strikes midnight on black Monday.
More than anything, though, the game encapsulated everything that's wrong with the Browns franchise right now, much of it, not Stefanski's fault.
Ravaged by injuries, most recently to standout rookies Harold Fannin Jr. and Carson Schwesinger, who couldn't play this week, the roster's biggest warts have been exposed down the stretch of this season.
Most of them are on the offensive side of the ball, which saved one of its worst performances of the season for last. That unit mustered just 200 yards of total offense, gained only 11 first downs, and scored 6 points on its own.
Somehow it didn't matter.
Shedeur Sanders, looking to provide a final statement of his own as to why he should be part of the Browns' QB plans in 2026 and beyond, instead produced what was the worst outing of his young career. The fifth-round pick completed 11-of-22 passes for 111 yards. He led only two scoring drives, committed the Browns' only turnover of the day – a fumble in the first quarter – and nearly threw it away two or three other times.
I didn't matter.
When the pressure was on, Sanders delivered, orchestrating a 10-play, 40-yard drive to get first-year kicker Andre Szmyt into field goal range to deliver a game-winning 49-yarder. It was a moment of redemption for Szmyt, who missed two kicks in a Week 1 loss to the Bengals. For Sanders' it was the last image he'll leave his most impassioned supporters, and critical haters, with as he enters an offseason with plenty of questions of his own.
The Browns may or may not have a franchise QB. The fact that they don't know, though, will continue to haunt them in the months ahead.
Most of the days' scoring, though, came from the defense. Devin Bush returned a tipped interception 93 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. One series later, CB Sam Webb joined him, scooping a Samaje Perine fumble and returning it 47 yards for a second defensive touchdown in the first half.
Those plays highlighted the pivotal role the defense has played in just about any and all the success the Browns have had this season.
Nobody understands that more than Myles Garrett. After weeks of trying to chase down the single-season sack record, he finally got home for sack No. 23 of the season, bringing down Joe Burrow with just 5:04 remaining in the Browns' season.
He was mobbed by his teammates seconds later, and for a second, in another losing season, the Browns and their loyal fans had something to feel good about. Something to remind them that the 2025 campaign wasn't totally meaningless.
Still, the moment also underscored what Cleveland wasted this year. A historic performance from Garrett. A Super Bowl-caliber defense. Another year of key players in their prime.
Could it be any clearer that the Browns roster is extremely flawed?
That didn't stop Stefanski from finding a way to lead his team to two emotional wins over division opponents to close out the season. Doing so also doomed the franchise to a pick outside of the top five in next April's draft, which may just be his real parting gift for the organization that seems poised to fire him.
For whatever it's worth, his team didn't quit on him. We'll find out exactly what it's worth over the next few hours. But it was a hell of a farewell statement.