The Cleveland Browns opened the 2025 season 17 weeks ago against the Cincinnati Bengals, and this afternoon will close it with another meeting with the Bengals.
The afternoon will carry with it a sense of finality, as, after 178 career games, it may be the final time fans will see Joel Bitonio in a Cleveland uniform as he once again ponders retirement. We may have already witnessed the final game with the Browns for veterans Wyatt Teller and David Njoku, who will spend the day on the sidelines after being placed on injured reserve, and will be free agents in a few months.
And while no one knows what is in the minds of owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, the speculation and tea leaf reading have led many to conclude that today will be the final game for head coach Kevin Stefanski and, possibly, general manager Andrew Berry, after six years in charge.
No matter what happens in the days to come, this is the last time we will see this particular group of players and coaches together in Cleveland, for what that is worth.
That is tomorrow’s problem, as they say, so for now let’s kick off the final Sunday of regular-season football with the latest on the Browns and the NFL in today’s edition of the Sunday Dawg Chow.
Dawgs By Nature:
- What will be the fate of Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry come ‘Black Monday’? (Thomas Moore) – Will the Cleveland Browns make a change at head coach and/or general manager? Here is the latest on what may or may not happen as the season comes to a close.
- Browns trades: Revisiting the Greg Newsome, Tyson Campbell deal with Jaguars (Barry Shuck) – A big swap on the Cleveland Browns roster earlier in the season, how did Greg Newsome, Tyson Campbell trade fair?
- Browns 2025 season: Least encouraging part of the team, roster (Abby Mueller) – In a challenging 2025 season on multiple fronts, a few areas that are concerning for the Cleveland Browns’ future.
- Browns make minor roster moves ahead of season finale (Thomas Moore) – Team officially places LB Carson Schwesinger on injured reserve, makes a few other transactions to face the Bengals.
Cleveland Browns:
- Should the Browns fire Kevin Stefanski? The reasons to keep him, and the reasons to let him go (cleveland.com) – All signs are pointing to the Cleveland Browns moving on from head coach Kevin Stefanski after their Week 18 game against the Bengals. The longer the week has gone on, it has felt more like a matter of when, not if.
- 5 Browns stats that sum up 2025 and show what needs work before 2026 (Beacon Journal) – The only statistics that matter for the Browns in the end are the ones the scoreboard showed at the end of each game. From there, the wins and losses get added up to form the only other numbers that matter — the record.
- Mercifully, the end of the season is near for the Browns (Browns Zone) – Can you believe it? After a season-ending loss in Cincinnati on Sunday, the Browns won’t lose another game until they play their first game of the 2026 season. Boy, time flies when you lose almost every game.
- A prediction about Kevin Stefanski, Andrew Berry & other Browns stuff (Terry Pluto) – I’ve heard some people say, “How can the Browns fire Kevin Stefanski if he finishes the season by beating Pittsburgh and Cincinnati – division rivals.” I’d counter with the fact that he’s been here for six years. His last two games should not impact a decision about his future. Either you want him as coach or you don’t.
- What to expect from Browns QB Shedeur Sanders’ final 2025 start (ESPN) – The Cleveland Browns’ season finale at the Cincinnati Bengals will serve as the final chance for Shedeur Sanders to leave a lasting impression on the Cleveland Browns organization ahead of an offseason that once again figures to be rife with quarterback questions.
NFL:
- Ranking the 2025 NFL season’s top five rookie classes: Browns, Seahawks hit it big (NFL.com) – Before the race to Super Bowl LX takes center stage, I wanted to assess the progress of each team’s rookie class, including drafted and undrafted players, to identify the five most impactful groups — including several that will continue to shape the playoff field.
- A timeline look at the season for 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward (ESPN) – Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward’s rookie season started with high hopes after being matched with coach Brian Callahan, who once helped launch the career of Joe Burrow, another No. 1 pick. But Ward became the fourth straight quarterback selected No. 1 over the past five years whose coach was fired during their rookie season.
- How Saints QB Tyler Shough went from backup to ROY candidate (ESPN) – New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has gotten used to checking his phone first thing in the morning. That’s when he’ll see responses to text messages he sent to Saints coach Kellen Moore the previous evening. Moore, a self-admitted night owl, tends to stay up after his family goes to sleep, watching game film and texting his thoughts to his starting quarterback at late hours.
