Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 2023 Week 18 Recap

Game story

In Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season on 2024-01-07, the Cincinnati Bengals took care of business against the Cleveland Browns, pulling away with a 31–14 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Driskel (Cleveland Browns) paced the passing game, with -9.88 total EPA, and -11.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, Dav. Bell (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.63 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+12.1% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Cincinnati Bengals changed the game: (8:59) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass deep middle to 15-C.Jones to CLE 24 for 35 yards (29-C.Mitchell).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 Dav. Bell · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +9.63 total EPA · 4 snaps · +2.41 EPA/play
2. 2 C. Jones · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +4.68 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.56 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Iosivas · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +4.05 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.58 EPA/play
4. 4 T. Irwin · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +3.74 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.87 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Browning · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +3.63 total EPA · 30 snaps · +0.12 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Mixon · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +3.30 total EPA · 14 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Jones · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +1.10 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.55 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Ford · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.45 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Mixon (Q1 51:11)
• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Mixon (J. Browning pass) (Q1 45:53)
• Cincinnati Bengals — A. Iosivas (J. Browning pass) (Q2 39:23)
• Cincinnati Bengals — A. Iosivas (J. Browning pass) (Q3 18:37)
• Cleveland Browns — J. Driskel (Q4 8:51)
• Cleveland Browns — J. Driskel (Q4 2:39)

Field goals

• Cincinnati Bengals — E. McPherson (Q2 32:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 14–0. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q1 51:11) — (6:11) 61-C.Ford reported in as eligible. 28-J.Mixon right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 51:07) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the CLE 6 (Q1 45:53) — (:53) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass short left to 28-J.Mixon for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 45:48) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins..

The second quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 10–0. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the CLE 3 (Q2 39:23) — (9:23) 6-J.Browning pass short middle to 80-A.Iosivas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 39:19) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.; Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the CLE 27 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 2-E.McPherson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins..

The third quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–0. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the CLE 7 (Q3 18:37) — (3:37) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass short middle to 80-A.Iosivas for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q3 18:32) — 2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 14–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CIN 31 (Q4 8:51) — (8:51) (Shotgun) 12-J.Driskel pass deep left to 18-Dav.Bell for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q4 8:45) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CIN 24 (Q4 2:39) — (2:39) (Shotgun) 12-J.Driskel pass deep right to 18-Dav.Bell for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the CIN 15 (Q4 2:34) — 36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 53:59) — (8:59) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass deep middle to 15-C.Jones to CLE 24 for 35 yards (29-C.Mitchell). [WPA +12.1% · EPA +3.62]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 56:59) — (11:59) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass short middle intended for 83-T.Boyd INTERCEPTED by 37-Da.Bell at CLE 22. 37-Da.Bell to CLE 24 for 2 yards (16-T.Irwin). [WPA -10.3% · EPA -3.90]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 58:29) — (13:29) (Shotgun) 12-J.Driskel pass deep left intended for 19-C.Tillman INTERCEPTED by 27-J.Battle [91-T.Hendrickson] at CIN 45. 27-J.Battle ran ob at CIN 45 for no gain. [WPA -5.8% · EPA -3.03]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 56:02) — (11:02) (Shotgun) 12-J.Driskel sacked at CLE 17 for -9 yards (sack split by 92-B.Hill and 91-T.Hendrickson). [WPA -4.6% · EPA -2.04]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 58:24) — (13:24) (Shotgun) 28-J.Mixon up the middle to CLE 39 for 16 yards (37-Da.Bell, 33-R.Hickman). [WPA +3.6% · EPA +0.92]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q4 8:51) — (8:51) (Shotgun) 12-J.Driskel pass deep left to 18-Dav.Bell for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -0.0% · EPA +5.45]
• Cleveland Browns (Q2 33:28) — (3:28) (No Huddle) 12-J.Driskel pass short left intended for 11-J.Proche INTERCEPTED by 55-L.Wilson (58-J.Ossai) [58-J.Ossai] at CIN 40. 55-L.Wilson pushed ob at CLE 34 for 26 yards (56-L.Wypler). [WPA -2.5% · EPA -4.59]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 56:59) — (11:59) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass short middle intended for 83-T.Boyd INTERCEPTED by 37-Da.Bell at CLE 22. 37-Da.Bell to CLE 24 for 2 yards (16-T.Irwin). [WPA -10.3% · EPA -3.90]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q1 53:59) — (8:59) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass deep middle to 15-C.Jones to CLE 24 for 35 yards (29-C.Mitchell). [WPA +12.1% · EPA +3.62]

Quarterback report card

J.Driskel led all passers in efficiency for Cleveland Browns, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Driskel (Cleveland Browns) · 32 dropbacks · 40.6% completion · -11.0% CPOE · -0.31 EPA/play · -9.88 total EPA
• J.Browning (Cincinnati Bengals) · 30 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +6.1% CPOE · +0.12 EPA/play · +3.63 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Cincinnati Bengals held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.08 vs -0.17), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 12 drives, +6.33 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Cleveland Browns: 13 drives, -12.31 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Cincinnati Bengals leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• Dav. Bell (Cleveland Browns) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Driskel (CLE) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• J. Browning (CIN) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 51:11 · CLE 1 · Score 0-6
   (6:11) 61-C.Ford reported in as eligible. 28-J.Mixon right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 51:07 · CLE 15 · Score 0-7
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.
3. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 45:53 · CLE 6 · Score 0-13
   (:53) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass short left to 28-J.Mixon for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 45:48 · CLE 15 · Score 0-14
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.
5. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 39:23 · CLE 3 · Score 0-20
   (9:23) 6-J.Browning pass short middle to 80-A.Iosivas for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 39:19 · CLE 15 · Score 0-21
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.
7. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q2 32:00 · CLE 27 · Score 0-24
   (2:00) 2-E.McPherson 45 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.
8. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q3 18:37 · CLE 7 · Score 0-30
   (3:37) (Shotgun) 6-J.Browning pass short middle to 80-A.Iosivas for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q3 18:32 · CLE 15 · Score 0-31
   2-E.McPherson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-C.Adomitis, Holder-10-B.Robbins.
10. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 8:51 · CIN 31 · Score 6-31
    (8:51) (Shotgun) 12-J.Driskel pass deep left to 18-Dav.Bell for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 8:45 · CIN 15 · Score 7-31
    36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.
12. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 2:39 · CIN 24 · Score 13-31
    (2:39) (Shotgun) 12-J.Driskel pass deep right to 18-Dav.Bell for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q4 2:34 · CIN 15 · Score 14-31
    36-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-13-C.Bojorquez.