Bengals vs Browns Prediction 1/4/26 NFL Picks Today

The Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals meet Sunday in NFL action from Paycor Stadium. Here’s a Bengals vs Browns prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Bengals vs Browns pick.

Cleveland Browns Betting Preview

The Browns limped to a 2-6 record in their first eight games this year, losing to the Bengals, Ravens, Lions, Vikings, Steelers and Patriots in that time. After the bye week, Cleveland hit a 1-6 run with a lone win over the Raiders amid losses to the Jets, Ravens, 49ers, Titans, Bears and Bills. Over the first 15 games of the season that would give the Browns a 3-12 overall record.

In their matchup with the Steelers last weekend, Cleveland jumped out to an early 10-0 lead. The Browns managed to hang on through the second half on the way to an upset win 13-6. QB Shedeur Sanders had a 17-of-23 line for 186 yards, one TD and two picks. Dylan Simpson had 27 yards on 11 carries and Jerry Jeudy had five catches for 54 yards in the victory effort.

Cincinnati Bengals Betting Preview

Over on the Bengals’ side, they managed to go just 3-6 ahead of their bye week this year. Cincinnati lost to the Vikings, Broncos, Lions, Packers, Jets and Bears during that stretch. After the bye the Bengals fell versus the Steelers, Patriots, Bills and Ravens in their next six games (with wins over the Ravens and Dolphins), leaving the team with a 5-10 overall record in 15 outings.

In the Arizona game on Sunday the Bengals scored points in each of the first three quarters—including double-digits in the second and third—on the way to a 37-14 blowout win. QB Joe Burrow had 305 yards with two TDs on a 24-of-31 line. Chase Brown added 101 yards on 22 carries with two scores, and Ja’Marr Chase had seven catches for 60 yards and two more TDs.

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 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.
• The Browns have lost the first half in each of their last 13 road games 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 road team has won the first half in five of the Bengals’ last six games.
• 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.

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

• Ja’Marr Chase has recorded 91+ receiving yards in each of his last six home appearances against AFC opponents.
• 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.
• Tee Higgins has scored at least one touchdown in seven of his last eight home appearances against AFC opponents.
• 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.
• Joe Flacco has recorded 217+ passing yards in each of his last six appearances against the Browns.
• 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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).

Bengals vs Browns Prediction

I’ll probably just stick with the Bengals but I’m not touching this one. Cincinnati took care of a struggling Cardinals team pretty easily in their last outing, notching 429 yards with 309 pass yards, 29 first downs and a 10-of-15 success rate on third downs. The Bengals held Arizona to just 233 yards on the other side with 12 first downs and 3-of-13 on third downs. That makes consecutive wins for the Bengals with a combined 82 points scored in that pair.

Way back on September 7 when these teams last met, the Bengals eked out a 17-16 victory in the opener. Cincinnati mustered just 141 total yards in that one however, with 46 rush yards, 2.9 yards per play and 11 first downs. The Browns had 327 yards on the other side but also tossed a couple of picks in the defeat. This rematch will likely be another close one; it’ll be competitive if nothing else.