Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals Prediction 1/4/2026 Today’s NFL Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Browns vs Bengals Prediction for this NFL Week 18 game on Sunday, January 4th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NFL matchup.

Cincinnati Bengals Preview

The Cincinnati Bengals have a 6-10 record this season and are sitting third in the AFC North and have been eliminated from playoff contention. They are 6-10 ATS, 8-8 in Over/Under and have a 3-5 home record and a 3-5 away record. The Bengals are coming off a 37-14 home win against the Arizona Cardinals.

Offensively, the Bengals average 24.8 points per game, ranking 12th in the NFL, while defensively, they allow 29.5 points per game, which is 31st. Cincinnati averages 327.0 total yards per game (236.4 passing and 90.6 rushing), while allowing 392.2 total yards per game (148.9 rushing and 243.3 passing).

Joe Burrow leads the Bengals with 1573 passing yards with 65.5% completed passes and 14 touchdowns. Chase Brown leads the team in rushing yards with 947, while Ja’Marr Chase has a team-high 117 receptions for 1316 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Defensively, Jordan Battle has a team-high 122 total tackles (59 of them solo), while Myles Murphy leads the team in sacks, with 5.5, while Jordan Battle and Geno Stone each have four interceptions.

Cleveland Browns Preview

The Cleveland Browns have a 4-12 record this season and are sitting fourth in the AFC North and have been eliminated from playoff contention. They are 4-12 ATS, 8-8 in Over/Under and have a 3-6 home record and a 1-6 away record. The Browns are coming off a 13-6 home win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Offensively, the Browns average 16.2 points per game, ranking 31st in the NFL, while defensively, they allow 22.6 points per game, which is 14th. Cleveland averages 266.0 total yards per game (170.3 passing and 95.7 rushing), while allowing 278.6 total yards per game (114.8 rushing and 163.8 passing).

Shedeur Sanders leads the Browns with 1289 passing yards with 57.4% completed passes and seven touchdowns. Quinshon Judkins leads the team in rushing yards with 827, while Harold Fannin has a team-high 72 receptions for 731 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. Defensively, Carson Schwesinger has a team-high 156 total tackles (67 of them solo), while Myles Garrett leads the team in sacks, with 22, while Devin Bush Jr. and Ronnie Hickman each have two interceptions.

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals Betting Trends: Week 18

Why the Cincinnati Bengals will win

• The Browns have lost each of their last 10 road games against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Bengals have won each of their last eight home games without Drew Sample.
• The Browns have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 10 games as underdogs without Cedric Tillman.
• The home team has covered the spread in six of the last seven games between the Browns and Bengals.
• The Browns have lost the first half in each of their last 13 road games against AFC North opponents.
• The Browns have lost the first quarter in each of their last six games at Paycor Stadium against teams that held a losing record.
• The Bengals have scored the first touchdown in each of their last six games as favorites against AFC North opponents.

Why the Cleveland Browns will win

• The Bengals have lost eight of their last nine games without Joe Burrow.
• The Browns have won three of their last four games as underdogs without Dillon Gabriel.
• The Bengals have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine home games against starting rookie QBs.
• The Browns have covered the spread in each of their last four games as underdogs against AFC opponents.
• The Browns have won the first quarter in each of their last two games as road underdogs against AFC opponents.
• The Browns have scored the first touchdown in seven of their last eight games against AFC opponents.
• The road team has won the first half in five of the Bengals’ last six games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the Browns’ last eight road games without Isaiah McGuire have gone OVER the total points line.
• Eight of the Bengals’ last nine games without Tanner Hudson have gone OVER the total points line.
• Four of the last five games between teams from the same division have gone UNDER the total points line.

Cincinnati Bengals Player Prop Facts

• Chase Brown has recorded 67+ rushing yards in six of the Bengals’ last seven games as home favorites.
• Chase Brown has recorded 90+ rushing and receiving yards in each of the Bengals’ last six home games.
• Chase Brown has scored two or more touchdowns in four of the Bengals’ last five games as favorites against teams that held a losing record.
• Tee Higgins has scored at least one touchdown in seven of his last eight home appearances against AFC opponents.
• Joe Flacco has recorded 217+ passing yards in each of his last six appearances against the Browns.
• Ja’Marr Chase has recorded 91+ receiving yards in each of his last six home appearances against AFC opponents.
• Joe Flacco has recorded 23+ completions in each of his last nine appearances with his team as a favorite against AFC North opponents.
• Heading into Week 18, Tee Higgins ranks 1st in the NFL in 20+ yard receiving touchdowns (7) this season.

Cleveland Browns Player Prop Facts

• Cedric Tillman has recorded 22+ receiving yards in each of his last eight appearances against AFC North opponents.
• Harold Fannin Jr. has scored the last touchdown in each of the Browns’ last three games against AFC opponents.
• Deshaun Watson has recorded 26+ rushing yards in each of his last seven appearances with his team as an underdog following a win.
• Harold Fannin Jr. has scored at least one touchdown in four of the Browns’ last five games.
• Shedeur Sanders has recorded 186+ passing yards in three of the Browns’ last four games against AFC opponents.
• Shedeur Sanders has recorded 17+ completions in each of the Browns’ last four games.
• Heading into Week 18, Myles Garrett ranks 1st in the NFL in sacks (22.0) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• Bengals – two different players have recorded 80+ rushing yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 18.
• Bengals – two different players have recorded 90+ rushing yards in a game this season – equal-most in the NFL, heading into Week 18.
• Heading into Week 18, the Browns rank 1st in the NFL in total punt yards (3940) this season.
• Heading into Week 18, the Browns have suffered the equal-most road losses by a margin of 10+ points this season (5).

Browns vs Bengals Prediction

In this Browns vs Bengals Prediction, the Bengals are coming as -7.5-point home favorites. Bengals have been the better team this season, as they have a better overall record and are facing a Browns team that has won only once in their 7 road games so far. The Bengals are also coming into this matchup in better form, as they have back-to-back wins and are 5-1 against the spread in their last 6 games, while the Browns are 2-7 in their last 9 games and have the second-worst offense in football this season. The Bengals have also won their last four meetings against the Browns and I expect this trend to continue today. Take the Bengals by -7.5 at home today.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Cincinnati Bengals -7.5