Browns vs. Bengals: Five matchups to watch in season finale

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The Cleveland Browns' season comes to and end this weekend when they face the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals.

Neither of these teams have much at stake at this point in the year. Both are eliminated from playoff contention, and the fates of both of their head coaches appear all-but-certain at this point. Zac Taylor seems likely to return to Cincinnati's sidelines next season, while the Browns seem prepared to embark on a search for a new head coach starting next week.

Nonetheless, there will be several things key to this Week 18 game. An NFL record is still at stake, and the Browns will need to do plenty of evaluating when it comes to this roster heading into next season, so a few players could benefit themselves by putting up some good performances.

Let's dive into a few key matchups for Sunday's season finale in Cincinnati.

Myles Garrett vs. Orlando Brown Jr.

Garrett was held without a sack last week in the win over the Steelers, so he's still one shy of breaking the NFL's single-season record. It may come down to the buzzer, but Garrett will have one more opportunity to rewrite NFL history this weekend.

Garrett recorded two sacks in the first matchup between these two teams, all the way back in Week 1. He just needs one more this time around.

Teven Jenkins vs. Bengals interior defensive line

Jenkins, who signed a one-year deal with the Browns this past offseason, will have the opportunity to make his case for a future starting job this weekend. With both starting guards' -- Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller -- futures up in the air, Jenkins would be a useful piece for the Browns to keep around on an offensive line that will need some serious work this offseason.

Jenkins will face off against a Bengals interior defensive duo of B.J. Hill and TJ Slaton this weekend. Hill ranks just outside of the top 10 among IDL in run stops (24) this season, per Pro Football Focus, while Slaton's numbers are on par with players like Rams DL Kobie Turner or Dolphins DL Zach Sieler.

Shedeur Sanders vs. Bengals defense

With the Browns (likely) out of quarterback range in the upcoming draft, Sanders can lay out why he should get another shot as the starter for the 2026 season. Sanders wasn't excellent during last week's win over Pittsburgh -- and had a few low-light plays -- but he also stepped up at a few key moments to help the Browns win that game. Overall this season, Sanders has completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 1,289 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across six starts.

Sanders' last start this year will come against a Bengals unit that has allowed a league-worst 392.2 yards per game to opposing offenses.

Jerry Jeudy vs. DJ Turner II

Jeudy's season has been one of the most highly disappointing aspects of a team that sits at 4-12 in Week 18. Just a year removed from his breakout 1,229-yard campaign, Jeudy enters the final week of the season having caught 48 passes for 585 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He has yet to record a single 100-yard game this season, and his season-high mark of 78 yards came nearly two months ago against the Jets.

Jeudy's cap hit for the 2026 season isn't astronomical -- per Spotrac, it's currently slated to be just over $10 millon -- but the Browns' decision-makers can feel a bit better about their investment in Jeudy should he put up a good performance against a cornerback who has played high-level football this season. Despite the Bengals' defense ranking among the league's worst overall, Turner's 45.9 completion percentage allowed this season is fourth-lowest among all cornerbacks who have gotten serious playing time (100 snaps) in 2025, per PFF.

Devin Bush vs. Bengals' ground game

Star rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been ruled out for the Browns' season finale, leaving massive shoes to fill on the defensive side of the ball. That presents a big opportunity for Bush, a pending free-agent who has played impressive football alongside Schwesinger this season.

Bush, who had the reputation of a draft bust heading into the season, has been a reliable piece during his second year in Jim Schwartz's defense. He currently ranks second on the team with 111 tackles, and has recorded two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and seven pass defenses over the course of the season. He's a piece worth keeping around at the right price for the Browns, and their defense will need a good performance out of him if they want to slow down Chase Brown. The Bengals' big-play running back is coming off of one of his best games of the season -- a 141-scrimmage-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Cardinals last week.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns vs. Bengals: Five matchups to watch in season finale

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