Browns vs. Bengals: 3 things to watch in Cleveland’s final game of 2025

3 days ago7 min read

As the Cleveland Browns roll into Cincinnati for the final curtain call of the 2025 season, this isn't just a game against the Bengals; it's a live audition tape for the future, a 60-minute scouting combine where every snap carries the weight of offseason decisions. For a franchise perpetually balancing on the knife's edge of contention and rebuild, these Week 18 contests are less about the final score and more about the granular, analytical deep dive into the roster's fringe.The spotlight today falls squarely on three key personnel puzzles that the Browns' front office must solve before free agency and the draft descend upon Berea. First, the backfield conundrum with Raheim Sanders.We know the dynamic one-two punch of Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson is the future—their combined efficiency metrics and explosive play rates are already drawing comparisons to the Chubb-Hunt era in its prime. But Sanders remains the enigmatic third piece.His limited sample size, highlighted by an 11-carry workload against Buffalo, paints a picture of a classic short-yardage hammer, a player whose yards-after-contact numbers, while solid, suggest a one-dimensional profile. The great NFL teams, however, don't just have stars; they have depth with specific, high-leverage skillsets.Think of Jerome Bettis in his later Steelers years, or Mike Alstott for the Buccaneers—players whose value transcended pure yardage. The Browns need to determine if Sanders can be that specialized weapon, or if his lack of proven receiving chops and lateral agility makes him expendable.Giving him 15+ touches today, including designed screens and check-downs, is the only way to gather the data needed for that multi-million dollar decision. Then there's the tight end situation, thrust into focus with Harold Fannin Jr.and the stalwart David Njoku sidelined. This is Blake Whiteheart's moment.Since his arrival in 2024, his analytics have been quietly impressive—his run-blocking win rate is in the 78th percentile league-wide, and his catch efficiency on limited targets suggests untapped potential. But being a reliable TE2 in a specialized package is a world away from operating as the primary read in the passing game.Today, he'll face Cincinnati's coverage schemes designed to disrupt the intermediate middle of the field. Can he create separation against linebackers in man coverage? Can he be the safety valve for the quarterback on crucial third downs? His performance will answer whether Cleveland needs to invest heavily in a Njoku complement or if they've already developed one in-house.Finally, the most glaring long-term issue: the interior offensive line. The struggles beyond Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller have been a season-long narrative.

#Cleveland Browns

#Cincinnati Bengals

#Raheim Sanders

#Blake Whiteheart

#Kendrick Green

#2025 season finale

#player evaluation

#weeks picks news