The Cincinnati Bengals have been significantly more successful in recent years, winning the AFC North division in 2021 and 2022 with a modern, high-powered offense led by Joe Burrow, while the Cleveland Browns have struggled with consistency despite roster investments and have not won a playoff game since 1994.
Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
AFC North defensive specialist team with balanced roster and strong pass defense
NFL team competing in AFC North with modern high-powered offense and recent division dominance
Recent Division Titles (2020-2025). Playoff Wins Since 1994. Current QB Rating (2024 season). Average Win-Loss Record (2021-2024). Super Bowl Appearance History. Pro Bowl selections (2023-2024). Offensive yards per game (2024)
The Cincinnati Bengals are the stronger franchise heading into 2026, with superior quarterback play, a more explosive offense, and consistent recent success in the AFC North. Choose the Bengals if you want to follow a team with championship aspirations and modern offensive firepower. Choose the Browns if you prefer a franchise with defensive strengths and a longstanding commitment to rebuilding, though recent results suggest they remain several years away from contention.
Cleveland Browns: 2 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 4.2 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 0 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Standard approach | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Fair - Turnover issues | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 4-2 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 27.3% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 44.4% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Average Points Per Game vs This Opponent
Cleveland Browns: 18.1 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Cleveland Browns | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Leading Running Back Rushing Yards (2025)
Cleveland Browns: 35.5% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Gabriel 110 yards | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 20.2 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 46.7% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Quinshon Judkins 827 yards | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 77 seasons overall | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 11 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 22.4 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 19:10 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 64.7% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Primary Running Back Rushing Yards (2025)
Cleveland Browns: 827 (Quinshon Judkins) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 73rd season (2025) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Multiple starters (Watson, Gabriel, Flacco) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 32nd | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 6-9 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Lost 29-31 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Below .500 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: ~2,000 yards | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: ~15 TDs | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3 appearances | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Lost 3-31 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: ~55% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: ~82 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 61 years (1964) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3-14 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 16.7 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 478 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 0 wins | Cincinnati Bengals: 3 wins
Cleveland Browns: 0 | Cincinnati Bengals: 0
Cleveland Browns: 3,964 (Deshaun Watson) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
QB Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio (2024)
Cleveland Browns: 1.69 (27 TDs / 16 INTs) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 6 seasons (Kevin Stefanski, since 2020) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 8 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
All-Time Head-to-Head Record (Since 1996)
Cleveland Browns: 29-35 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 6 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: $230M (Watson) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Offensive Points Per Game (2023-24 Season)
Cleveland Browns: 21.5 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 118.2 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 77 years (1964) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 28-32 (since 1996) | Cincinnati Bengals: 41 (plus 1 tie)
Cleveland Browns: 56.3% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: $57.5M (Deshaun Watson) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: $3.2B | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 544-689-10 (.441 win percentage) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 42-81-1 vs Steelers | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3 (2020, 2022, 2023) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Never won | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: .438 (395-506-7) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3-14 (.176) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 8 Hall of Famers | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 82.4 (Deshaun Watson) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 4th Place AFC North | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 11-6 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 2 appearances | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: $230M (Deshaun Watson) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: $8.2M | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 76 years (since 1950) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 2 (2020, 2022) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 0 appearances | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: .447 (515-638-11) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 6 appearances | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 7 wins (16 games) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 1946 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Conference Championships (pre-Super Bowl era & modern)
Cleveland Browns: 8 total | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 5 seasons (Kevin Stefanski, 2020-present) | Cincinnati Bengals: 3 seasons (Zac Taylor since 2019, 4 full seasons managing team)
2025 Defense Ranking (Yards Allowed/Game)
Cleveland Browns: 364.5 yards (22nd) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 379.8 yards (7th) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3 appearances (2020, 2021, 2023) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 2 (Jim Brown, Otto Graham) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Head Coach Regular Season Win Percentage
Cleveland Browns: 54.0% (Stefanski) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Never | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 78 (since 1946) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 67,431 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 8 | Cincinnati Bengals: 5
Cleveland Browns: 13-33 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Winning Percentage (last 10 seasons: 2015-2024)
Cleveland Browns: 46.3% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 5 seasons (Stefanski, 2020-2025) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 11-6 (missed playoffs) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 1 (Deshaun Watson - 3x Pro Bowler career) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 42.1% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3 years (Kevin Stefanski) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 40 wins | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Division Titles (Last 25 Years: 1999-2024)
Cleveland Browns: 3 titles | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 9 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 8 appearances | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: $230M (5-year Deshaun Watson) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 1 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Regular Season Win Percentage (2020-2026)
Cleveland Browns: 47.6% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski: 0 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 32 years (1994) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 17.6% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Starting Quarterback MVP Awards (Career)
Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson: 0 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Consecutive Playoff Appearances (2020-2026)
Cleveland Browns: 4 of 6 seasons | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 92.1 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 354.1 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 23.4 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 4 years (2020) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 41-62 (.398 win %) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 78 years (founded 1946) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 2 (1964, 1965) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: $230M (Deshaun Watson, 2022) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 85.5 | Cincinnati Bengals: 94.2
Cleveland Browns: 312.4 yards | Cincinnati Bengals: 386.2 yards
Cleveland Browns: 348.1 yards | Cincinnati Bengals: 361.2 yards
Cleveland Browns: 8.5-8.5 | Cincinnati Bengals: 10.3-6.7
Cleveland Browns: 21.3 | Cincinnati Bengals: 26.8 points
Cleveland Browns: 5 players | Cincinnati Bengals: 7 players
Cleveland Browns: 0 titles | Cincinnati Bengals: 2 titles
Cleveland Browns: 573-703-10 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3 (2020, 2021, 2023) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Postseason Win Percentage (Last 25 Years)
Cleveland Browns: 40.0% (2-3) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 47.5% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 2 years (2023) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3 times | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 9.7 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 26 years (1999 draft year perspective) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 3,856 (Watson leader) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 1,105 (Chubb leader) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 8th - 209.2 YPG allowed | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 41 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 12 | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 64.1% (Watson) | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: 67% | Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: 412
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow (extension through 2029)
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: 52%
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: 24.3
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: 65,535 (Paycor)
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: 56.9%
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: 3
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: 1 starter (Joe Burrow)
Cleveland Browns: N/A | Cincinnati Bengals: 96.1 (Joe Burrow)
How to choose between Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals
Compare Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals. Contains 173 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Cleveland Browns vs Cincinnati Bengals.
Why haven't the Browns won a playoff game since 1994?
The Browns have experienced persistent quarterback instability and poor roster construction at critical moments. From 1995-2020, the team cycled through 30+ starting quarterbacks, including failed experiments with Tim Couch, Brady Quinn, and Johnny Manziel. Even after roster improvements in 2020-2024, quarterback inconsistency (Baker Mayfield's regression, Deshaun Watson's underperformance relative to contract) has prevented sustained success. The 1994 playoff win represents the franchise's only victory in 30 years despite multiple competitive rosters.
What makes Joe Burrow better than Deshaun Watson?
In 2024, Burrow posted a 94.2 passer rating with 43 passing touchdowns compared to Watson's 85.5 rating and 27 touchdowns. Burrow is playing at an MVP-caliber level with superior decision-making, chemistry with elite receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and proven playoff success (led Bengals to Super Bowl LVI after 2021 season). Watson, despite earning $55M annually, has struggled with ankle injuries, inconsistency, and off-field distractions, failing to justify his contract investment.
The Cleveland Browns have the superior defense, led by Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and strong secondary depth. In 2024, the Browns allowed 348.1 yards per game compared to Cincinnati's 361.2 yards. However, Cincinnati's defense remains adequate for an offense-first system, while the Browns rely more heavily on defensive performance to compensate for offensive inconsistency.
Do the Bengals have a legitimate Super Bowl chance?
Yes, the Bengals have shown legitimate championship potential. They reached the Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season, won back-to-back AFC North titles (2021-2022), and possess an elite quarterback, top-tier receiving weapons, and average 386+ yards per game. The primary vulnerability is their defense (ranked 20th in yards allowed), which must improve to win playoff games against strong teams. With Joe Burrow healthy and in his prime, the Bengals are contenders.
Is Deshaun Watson a franchise quarterback for the Browns?
Current evidence suggests no. Watson signed a 5-year, $230M fully-guaranteed contract in 2022 that was criticized as an overpayment, but has delivered a 85.5 passer rating in 2024 with 27 touchdowns. His ankle injuries have caused inconsistency, and he has not elevated the Browns to playoff contention. At 29 years old with significant contract years remaining, Watson must demonstrate substantial improvement in 2025-2026 to validate the investment. The Browns may need to explore alternatives if Watson's inconsistency persists.
How to Choose Between Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals
Consider: Recent Division Titles (2020-2025)
Recent Division Titles (2020-2025): Cleveland Browns has 0 titles, while Cincinnati Bengals has 2 titles.
Playoff Wins Since 1994: Cleveland Browns has 0 wins, while Cincinnati Bengals has 3 wins.
Consider: Current QB Rating (2024 season)
Current QB Rating (2024 season): Cleveland Browns has Deshaun Watson: 85.5, while Cincinnati Bengals has Joe Burrow: 94.2.
Consider: Average Win-Loss Record (2021-2024)
Average Win-Loss Record (2021-2024): Cleveland Browns has 8.5-8.5, while Cincinnati Bengals has 10.3-6.7.
Super Bowl Appearance History: Cleveland Browns has 1 appearance (1995 season), while Cincinnati Bengals has 1 appearance (2021 season).
Consider: Pro Bowl selections (2023-2024)
Pro Bowl selections (2023-2024): Cleveland Browns has 5 players, while Cincinnati Bengals has 7 players.
Consider: Offensive yards per game (2024)
Offensive yards per game (2024): Cleveland Browns has 312.4 yards, while Cincinnati Bengals has 386.2 yards.