Garrett sets sacks record and Szmyt's field goal on last play gives Browns 20-18 win over Bengals

CINCINNATI (AP) — Myles Garrett wanted to get his 23rd sack and set the NFL's single-season record in a victory.

Shedeur Sanders and Andre Szmyt did their part to make sure that became a reality.

After Ja’Marr Chase’s 4-yard touchdown catch gave Cincinnati an 18-17 advantage with 1:29 remaining, Sanders directed a 10-play, 40-yard drive, capped by Szmyt's 49-yard field goal as time expired as the Cleveland Browns rallied to defeat the Bengals 20-18 in the season finale Sunday.

“I think all of our goals are aligned,” said Sanders, who was 3 of 6 for 33 yards on the final drive. “I think the ‘want to’ is to prove that I'm able to drive down the field. I was just excited to be put in a situation again.”

Garrett didn't get his record-setting sack until 4:09 remained in the fourth quarter when he got Cincinnati's Joe Burrow for a 6-yard loss at midfield, surpassing the 22 1/2 by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt. Burrow was in the shotgun formation on first-and-10 at the Browns 45-yard line.

Garrett said after the game that he dreamed Saturday night that he didn't break the record.

“I was like, 'Well, we’ve got to deny fate.’ Whatever it is we’ve got to make it happen. I just went into it and still had the utmost confidence in myself and my preparation, and in my guys,” Garrett said. "Any time I started thinking I was tired or the fatigue setting in, I thought about that dream. I picked my butt up. It was time to go.”

After the Bengals (6-11) took the lead, the Browns (5-12) got the ball on their 29 with 1:23 remaining. On third-and-10, Isaiah Bond had a 13-yard reception to move the chains. Three plays later, Sanders had an 11-yard completion to Jerry Jeudy with 31 seconds left to get the Browns in Szmyt's range. Dylan Sampson had two carries for 7 yards to get it closer for Szmyt, who drilled it to give Cleveland two straight wins for the first time in two seasons.

It also was a perfect way to cap the season for Szmyt, who missed an extra point and field goal in Cleveland's 17-16 loss to Cincinnati in Week 1.

It also ended up being a routine kick for Szmyt. Both of his extra-point attempts on Sunday were from 48 yards due to the Browns picking up unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on their touchdowns.

“You kind of know how the ball is flying and what you need to do,” said Szmyt, who had a winning 55-yarder on the final play against Green Bay in Week 3. “I just hit one of those earlier. So just stay smooth, hit a clean ball and then the rest of it will do.”

The defense scored both touchdowns for Cleveland — Devin Bush had a 97-yard pick-6 and Sam Webb returned a fumble 47 yards.

It was the 15th time in franchise history the Browns had at least two defensive touchdowns in a game. The last was 2022 at Houston.

“Not exactly how you drew it up, to score twice on defense and for Andre to finish it at the end. I mean, you can’t write a better script than that," Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said. "For Myles Garrett, the way he got it in a really meaningful moment of the game and it came in a win, a great team win. So, I’m proud of those guys.”

Sanders finished 11 of 22 for 111 yards. He also had a fumble in the first quarter that led to Cincinnati’s first touchdown.

Burrow was 29 of 39 for 236 yards with three touchdowns and an interception for Cincinnati.

“We beat ourselves today. False starts, turnovers, mental errors — it certainly wasn’t high-level football today,” Burrow said.

Burrow had a 4-yard TD pass to Chase Brown in the first quarter to give the Bengals a 6-0 lead and a 13-yard pass to Tee Higgins to get them within 14-12 at halftime. Normally reliable kicker Evan McPherson missed both of his extra-point attempts.

Brown had 72 yards rushing and went over the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his three-year career.

Chase had eight receptions for 96 yards, including the TD in the left back corner of the end zone while being covered by Webb. Cleveland's Grant Delpit kept it a one-point game when he broke up Burrow's pass to Mike Gesicki on the 2-point conversion.

“It was a strange game. The defense gives them six points total, two field goals. That’s got to be enough to win," coach Zac Taylor said. “It’s the little things that got us."

Whether or not it was the final game for Stefanski remains unresolved. A decision by owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam on Stefanski’s future is expected Monday.

Stefanski — a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year — is expected to have interest from other teams if he leaves Cleveland after six seasons and two playoff appearances. He refused to address his future after the game.

“Respectfully, this game is not about me," he said. “I told you guys that. I’m proud of that group for fighting.”

Browns: CB Denzel Ward (neck) left in the first half. ... C Luke Wypler (knee) was injured in the fourth quarter.

Bengals: CB DJ Turner (calf) came out in the fourth quarter.

Browns: Deciding Stefanski's future along with the No. 7 pick.

Bengals: Will have the No. 9 overall pick in the draft.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson, right, sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins celebrates after scoring against the Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, right, scores against Cleveland Browns cornerback Sam Webb during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cleveland Browns kicker Andre Szmyt, middle right, is congratulated by teammates after kicking the game winning field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates with defensive end Adin Huntington (98) after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to set an NFL record for sacks in the regular season during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second official day of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj.

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and surrounding plain for intense prayers and worship that often mark a spiritual peak for them. They fervently murmured prayers and poured their hearts out in supplications. Many raised their hands in worship. It is common for pilgrims on that day, some with tears streaming down their faces, to ask God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health.

The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to perform it.

For pilgrims, the Hajj, performed over several days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade.

A Saudi official said on Friday that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the country from abroad.

This year, Muslims have been pouring into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the region.

The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats used to lay mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely." Iran on Tuesday denounced the most recent U.S. strikes as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations pressed on toward a possible deal to end the war.

For many, performing the Hajj can be a realization of a lifelong dream as they spend years hoping and praying to one day be able to undertake the pilgrimage or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” Mohammad Asal, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. “People here have prepared their prayers, hoping that God will respond to them, because we know that ... the most important ritual of the Hajj is being in Arafat.”

The Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. It’s a mass, communal experience, with Muslims performing rituals together. But it is also deeply personal, as every pilgrim brings their own yearnings and experiences.

“It was incredible,” Ahmed Sufyan, a pilgrim from the United States, said on Tuesday. “The unity and peace that we feel is something I’ve never experienced before,” he added via WhatsApp.

“Our wishes are many,” Mohammad Obaid, a Sudanese pilgrim, said, adding he was praying for Sudan and Muslims everywhere.

Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A Muslim pilgrim pray atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims walk towards the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims are silhouetted as they pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims read a copy of Islam's holy book Quran atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)