Kevin Stefanski's thoughts are on to Cincinnati and not on what might happen after the Cleveland Browns season finale.
Stefanski's future continues to be one of the central topics in the midst of another disappointing season. However, the Browns haven't looked like a team that is playing out the rest of the season over the past couple of weeks.
Cleveland prevented Pittsburgh from wrapping up the AFC North with a 13-6 victory on Sunday. That came one week after a 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Sunday's win was Cleveland's fourth of the season, and the team surpassed its victory total from 2024. If the Browns can post consecutive wins for the first time since 2023, that would bolster Stefanski's chances for a seventh season in Cleveland.
If owner Jimmy Haslam decides to move on from Stefanski though, he would be a top candidate elsewhere. Stefanski would not answer if he has had discussions about his future.
“I understand the question. I never get into those types of discussions. All I care about is finding a way to go 1-0 versus the Bengals," he said, “As you can imagine, my sole focus is on this game versus Cincinnati, but I also would tell you I’m privileged to have this job.”
Shedeur Sanders improved to 2-4 as a starting quarterback despite struggling in the second half. Sanders has shown improved footwork and decision-making while playing behind a makeshift offensive line. Sanders went into the game without his leading running back after Quinshon Judkins suffered a broken leg against the Bills. His leading receiver, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., played only two series after aggravating a groin injury.
While some Browns fans might have lamented the win because it dropped Cleveland a couple of spots down in the draft order, Myles Garrett made it abundantly clear that no one in the locker room signed up to lose.
“I don’t care what the situation is with the record. Not a single one of us want to line up and lay down to a team or a man that’s in front of us," he said. "No, we got put here in this place or selected, whatever it was — drafted to come here and win. Has it always been that way? No, but I’ll be damned if I’m just going to go out there and lay down to another team just because we want some more draft picks. That’s not me.”
The defense didn't allow a touchdown for the second game this season and the fifth time since Jim Schwartz became defensive coordinator in 2023. It is the fifth time since the Browns returned in 1999 that they haven't given up a touchdown in at least two games in a season.
Getting the offense out of its second-half rut. The Browns are averaging 120.7 yards after halftime in Shedeur Sanders' six starts, the fifth-lowest average in the league and nearly 40 yards lower than the 159.8-yard average in the first half. Opponents are also outscoring the Browns 60-38 in the third and fourth quarters the past six weeks.
CB Tyson Campbell was targeted seven times and allowed three receptions for only 17 yards. Campbell forced a tight passing window on four of the targets and had two passes defensed.
S Rayshawn Jenkins was called for taunting after the Browns got a third down stop on the Steelers second series. The drive continued because of the penalty and Chris Boswell's first field goal got the Steelers within 10-3.
Guards Wyatt Teller (calf) and Tevin Jenkins (concussion) also left Sunday's game.
22: Sacks this season for Garrett
1: Sacks needed by Garrett to pass Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt for the single-season record. Cincinnati's Joe Burrow is Garrett's most-sacked quarterback.
6: Touchdown catches by Fannin, the most by a Browns rookie since Andre Davis also had six in 2002.
12: Consecutive field goals by Andre Szmyt.
The Browns wrap up the regular season at Cincinnati against a Bengals squad that has outscored their opponents 82-35 the past two games. Cincinnati won the Week 1 matchup 17-16 and has a four-game winning streak in the "Battle of Ohio."
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett reacts after a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski talks with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, left, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Host nation Morocco and South Africa advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations’ knockout stage on Monday, when Egypt star Mohamed Salah got a rest with his team already through.
Morocco made sure of its place in the last 16 with a 3-0 rout of Zambia. The hosts topped Group A to stay on course for having all their knockout games in Rabat’s near 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will also stage the final on Jan. 18.
Results in Group A, where Comoros finished third with two points, and Group B, where Angola did likewise, set off celebrations elsewhere. That's because teams with more than two points and already assured of at least third place in their groups have reached the last 16.
The four best third-place teams from the six groups progress, along with the top two in each. Head-to-head results are the first determining factor if two teams finish with the same amount of points in a group.
It means 2021 winner Senegal, Congo and Benin (because of its win over Botswana, its first ever in the tournament) are through before their final games in Group D, and defending champion Ivory Coast, five-time winner Cameroon, and Mozambique (because of its win against Gabon) are through from Group F.
Burkina Faso and Sudan are through with already-qualified Algeria from Group E because they both defeated Equatorial Guinea.
Angola, which has a better goal difference than Comoros, can still go through with two points if already-qualified Nigeria beats Uganda and Tunisia beats Tanzania in Group C on Tuesday.
Motorists honked their horns, some with flag-waving passengers on the roofs of their vehicles, and supporters blew vuvuzelas on the streets of Rabat after Morocco's win.
This time there were only cheers, after Morocco fans had whistled the team during its previous game, prompting a rebuke from team captain Achraf Hakimi on Sunday.
Ayoub El Kaabi made sure of the win in the 50th with a spectacular bicycle kick — his second of the tournament. An offside flag added to the drama as the goal was ruled out and then allowed after a VAR check confirmed El Kaabi was onside, setting off more joyous celebrations in the stadium.
They had further reason to cheer when Hakimi went on as a substitute in the 64th for his first appearance since recovering from an ankle injury.
The African Footballer of the Year will likely start Sunday, when Morocco will play one of the third-place finishers from Groups C, D or E, the first of what the home fans hope will be four wins to lift the title.
“Now a new competition begins, where there is no room for error," El Kaabi said.
Mali’s 0-0 draw with Comoros was enough to finish second in Group A with three draws. Mali midfielder Amadou Haidara was sent off late.
“If we keep playing like this, we won't stay long in the tournament,” Mali coach Tom Sainfiet said.
The Eagles will play the second-place finisher in Group D in Casablanca on Saturday, possibly Congo.
Oswin Appollis fired South Africa into the last 16 with a 3-2 win over Zimbabwe.
The Bafana Bafana progressed in second place in Group B, behind Egypt, which drew 0-0 with Angola in Agadir. Both final group games were played at the same time.
With his team already through, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan rested his regulars including Salah, Omar Marmoush, and Trézéguet. They’re set to return for the Pharaohs’ first knockout game, also in Agadir, against a third-place finisher from Groups A, C or D on Jan. 5.
South Africa needed a win in Marrakech to be sure of progress without relying on a favor from Egypt. But Zimbabwe twice came from behind and pushed for a late equalizer.
“We repeated the same mistakes as in previous games – poor passing and bad positioning,” said South Africa coach Hugo Broos, who has complained about the lack of an ”AFCON vibe" at the tournament.
South Africa awaits results in Group F as it will play the second-place finisher from that group — Ivory Coast, Cameroon or Mozambique — on Sunday.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
Morocco's Achraf Hakimi comes on during the second half of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Morocco's fans celebrate during the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Morocco's Ayoub El Kaabi celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Angola's Beni Mukendi and Egypt's Mahmoud Saber compete for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Angola's Gelson Dala, right, controls the ball past Egypt's Ahmed Zizo during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Angola's Gelson Dala, right, kicks the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Egypt's Mohamed Salah, center, smiles as he sits on the bench ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
