Bengals learn the last remaining details about their 2025 season finale vs. Browns
The Bengals now know when they will kickoff their season finale against the Browns.
The Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) will play the Cleveland Browns (4-12) in Week 18 to close their 2025 regular season, but the date and time of the game has been a mystery since the schedule was revealed all the way back in May. The NFL keeps Week 18 games flexible with openings on both Saturday and Sunday in case of matchups with playoff implications.
Cincinnati now knows its contest against the Browns will be played on Sunday, not Saturday.
Bengals will kickoff against Cleveland at 1:00 p.m. ET on, Jan. 4 on CBS
There are no playoff implications with this matchup. Cincinnati has been eliminated from postseason contention since being shutout in Week 15 by the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns have been out for even longer, but their Week 17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers did pave the way for the very last regular season game to feature Pittsburgh fighting for the AFC North crown against the Ravens.
The Bengals, like the last two weeks, will be playing purely for pride, and a sweep will also be on the table. Cincinnati squeaked by Cleveland in Week 1 with a 17-16 victory on the road. It was the first Week 1 win for Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow since 2021. A win on Sunday would give them their fifth consecutive win over the Browns, and a 4-2 record against AFC North opponents. The last time the Bengals went above .500 in the division was also 2021, when they went 4-2.
Cincinnati is also 3-1 in Week 18 games since the NFL adopted the 17-game schedule in 2021. The club’s lone loss was at the end of the 2021 season against Cleveland when the Bengals had already wrapped up both the AFC North title and seeding in the playoffs and rested most their starters for the entire game.
Be sure to check back later in the week for the full broadcast map showing which regions in the country the game will be televised.
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