Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals Picks and Predictions for Sunday January 4 2026

By: Dylan Hellebrand Published 12/31/2025, 01:33 AM ET
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On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns (4-12) face off against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-10) at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. This game will air on CBS. Keep up to date with all the NFL action, with our NFL picks.

Cleveland vs. Cincinnati Game Information

  • January 4, 2026
  • 1:00pm EST
  • Paycor Stadium
  • CBS
  • 36° sunny/cloudy at start time

Cincinnati Form & Recent Results

Cincinnati enters Sunday’s game riding a wave of momentum, having strung together two straight victories and coming out on top in three of their last five matchups. Their most convincing win came against Arizona, where they put up an impressive 37 points. In that game, quarterback Joe Burrow showcased his accuracy and poise, completing 24 of 31 passes and tossing two touchdowns. Over the course of the season, Burrow has amassed 1,573 passing yards, playing a crucial role in keeping the Bengals in the hunt. On the ground, running back Chase Brown has been a reliable force, racking up 947 rushing yards, while Samaje Perine has contributed 340 yards of his own. The air attack has also been bolstered by wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who’s had a standout year with 1,316 receiving yards, making him one of Burrow’s favorite and most productive targets. Collectively, the Bengals have averaged just under 30 points per game across their last five games, showing they’re finishing the season strong offensively. While things haven’t unfolded exactly as the team would have hoped this year, Cincinnati has an opportunity to close out the season on a high note with a third straight win if they can get past Cleveland at home this Sunday.

Cleveland Form & Recent Results

Cleveland heads into this game coming off a win, having snapped a tough stretch where they lost four out of their last five matchups. In their recent 13-6 victory over Pittsburgh, quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes, throwing for one touchdown but also tossing two interceptions. So far this season, Sanders has racked up 1,289 passing yards. Quinshon Judkins has been a reliable force, totaling 827 rushing yards. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. leads the team in receiving with 731 yards, with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy adding 585 receiving yards of his own. Defensively, Cleveland has given up an average of 23.4 points per game over their last five. As they prepare to face the Bengals on the road, the Browns are hoping that their recent divisional win against the Steelers will give them the momentum they need to close out the season on a high note.

Key Players

  • CLE QB Shedeur Sanders this season: 109/190, 7 TD, 10 INT
  • CIN QB Joe Burrow this season: 144/220, 14 TD, 4 INT

Betting Odds & Market Overview:

  • CIN -7.5; O/U 44.5

Cleveland vs. Cincinnati Picks and Prediction

The Bengals had their sights set on reaching the playoffs this year, but instead, their season will come to an end on Sunday as they host the Browns at Paycor Stadium. For Cincinnati, this final game is a chance to finish strong in front of their home crowd. Meanwhile, the Browns are riding high after pulling off an upset victory over the Steelers. They're hoping to close out the season with back-to-back wins against division rivals, which would give them a confidence boost heading into the offseason. Final Score Prediction, Cincinnati Bengals win but fail to cover the spread, 27-22. The best sportsbooks are the best way to go when you are betting on the Bengals. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for the Browns with the Onyx Odds promo code. Getting the most out of your bets on Bengals vs Browns can be done by using the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

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