Cleveland Browns offense was bound to get someone fired in Week 18 vs Bengals

The Cleveland Browns’ offense had another rough day, as they were held to 200 yards of offense and couldn’t sustain drives against a defense that was, at one point this season, on a historically-bad stretch. However, Cleveland did have two notable offensive drives: a seven-minute drive to begin the second half (leading to a field goal), and then a game-winning field goal drive inside of two minutes. With the change at head coach on Monday, though, it’s clear the offense will be significantly upgraded this offseason.

Below, we analyze the snap counts and stats on offense for the Cleveland Browns’ Week 18 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Advertisement

Quarterback

• I continue to see some good elements at times from Shedeur Sanders — and when I say that each week, I am referring to the framework of a guy who has some tools to be an NFL starter. Given the small sample size he had to close out the season, Sanders handled himself well. However, he did not do enough to make you go, “Forget even looking at quarterbacks in this draft: we’ve got our guy!”

• Sanders has been holding the ball loosely for weeks on his scrambles, and it’s about time a team made him pay with the early forced fumble.

• It’s also worth reminding everyone that Sanders was again working with a depleted offensive line, and a crew of wide receivers that seemed below standard. Everyone chipped in to the struggles this season. PFF graded Sanders as the team’s worst offensive player this week, grading out to a 35.7. He technically finishes his rookie season 3-4 as a starter.

Running Back

• I’m not sure what the running back room will look like next year, other than Quinshon Judkins being the starter. With Andrew Berry sticking around, Dylan Sampson probably stays around as a receiving back option, but someone needs to work this offseason to be a better blocker. To the credit of all three backs in this game, they each had a combined five pass blocking snaps and did the job on them.

• Sanders was the Browns’ second-highest graded player by PFF this week, grading out to a 74.7.

Wide Receiver

• Even though he made the catch, the key third down reception by Jerry Jeudy — in which he bobbled it and still hung on — as well as his fourth down jet sweep that involved a bobble, but recovery — encapsulated the type of season it was for the team’s veteran receiver.

• I leave the season probably most intrigued by Malachi Corley, although I don’t know if the next offensive coach will really care that he had success on so many jet sweeps this season. Corley was the Browns’ top-graded player on offense this week, grading out to a 79.9, per PFF.

Tight End

• The tight ends were there. Perhaps a reason that Shedeur Sanders’ completion percentage struggled this week was that he didn’t have his top two tight end targets available. Sal Cannella had a crack at a deep ball in the end zone, but couldn’t haul it in.

Offensive Line

• It wouldn’t have been a Browns game without another offensive line injury. This time, it was Luke Wypler exiting early, forcing Zak Zinter in at center.

• Teven Jenkins was able to play after his concussion last week, and he was the Browns’ top-graded lineman, grading out to a 74.0. Jenkins was a bit of a gamble signing this offseason, and overall, he seemed to perform ok. However, I still leave the 2025 season uncertain with what happens at right guard between he, Wyatt Teller, or a new guy.

• Cam Robinson wasn’t bullied for once, and was the Browns’ fourth-highest graded player by PFF, grading out to a 72.5. His pass blocking grade was exceptional this week.