Cincinnati Closes the Season at 6-11, Turning Focus to Critical Offseason

The Cincinnati Bengals closed out a long, frustrating season with a loss to the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium, finishing the year at 6-11. The game didn’t carry playoff stakes, but it still carried pride and plenty of emotion as they head into the offseason searching for answers, accountability, and a clear plan to get this team back to championship standards.

The loss also locked Cincinnati into the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft, giving this franchise a valuable opportunity heading into one of the most important offseasons of the Joe Burrow era.

How the Game Played Out

The Bengals started the game with momentum, as the defense forced a fumble that led to an early Joe Burrow-to-Chase Brown touchdown. But special teams mistakes became a theme as the extra point was blocked, keeping the lead at 6-0. Then two costly mistakes swung the game in the Browns’ favor. A tipped pass intended for Tee Higgins turned into a 90-yard pick-six, and on the next drive, tight end Noah Fant lost a fumble that was also returned for a score. Just like that, Cincinnati went from leading to trailing 14-6.

Burrow and the offense fought late in the game, finishing off with a touchdown to Ja'Marr Chase, taking an 18-17 lead. But the defense couldn’t finish the job, and Cleveland moved down the field to hit the game-winning kick as time expired.

The game resembled the type of year Cincinnati has had. Close, competitive, but not enough when it mattered most.

A Season of Frustration, A Big Offseason Ahead

This final game won’t necessarily be remembered for the outcome, but what it ultimately represents. The Bengals showed flashes here and there, but the inconsistency that defined this 2025 season appeared again. A game of missed chances, turnovers, and situations they couldn’t finish.

The following day, a released statement from team president Mike Brown hit the media. He acknowledged the season fell below expectations and made it clear that change must follow. He emphasized the need for improvement but reaffirmed his confidence in Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin as leaders to help the team succeed. For many Bengals fans, this news landed with more frustration than optimism, not because accountability was ignored, but because it sounded all too similar to past off-season promises that never led to real improvement.

The franchise now enters the offseason with a top 10 draft pick, cap flexibility, core stars in place, and a mandate to build a team that can compete every week. As Brown wrote, the focus now shifts to building a roster that consistently wins and meets the expectations of the city and fan base.

I guess we fans will continue to do what we do every season, hold on to hope, and wait to see if this time will finally be different.

Where the Team Goes From Here

We can hope all we want, but ultimately the path back falls to action. That means:

• Upgrading the defense

• Fixing protection and tackling issues

• Developing young players who can actually become impact starters

• And adding depth around Burrow

This being said, this offseason matters—a lot. The Bengals are well aware they can’t waste another year of Joe Burrow’s prime, and the front office says they are committed to change, and now it’s time to prove it.

For now, the 2025 season comes to a close for this team. April marks the start of a rebuild, and this time, the Bengals can’t afford to get it wrong.