Panthers vs. Browns: Who will win Week 3 matchup? Our predictions, bets, TV info
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
The Carolina Panthers are back on the road.
Can they escape enemy territory with another win — this time in Cleveland?
The Panthers (1-1) are undefeated when they’ve been the visitors this year after clobbering their NFC South rivals in the Atlanta Falcons a week ago. They’ll put that record to the test at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.
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And if they can channel any bit of Week 2, they’ll be in good shape. Last week Carolina’s newly signed linebacker Devin Lloyd proved he was worth the investment, all three top-of-the-bill receivers flashed their playmaking ability and quarterback Bryce Young continued to soar to some personal unchartered heights.
Perhaps the optimism Panthers fans feel right now can be distilled here: Carolina ranks first in the NFL in net passing yards per game (312.5), second in points scored (71) and are tied for fourth in total offense (409). Those 71 points are the most through two games in franchise history, per the team.
The Browns (1-1), meanwhile, are fresh off a redemptive Week 2, as well. Quarterback Deshaun Watson went 24 of 30 for 238 yards and two touchdowns for a passer rating of 121.9 in the team’s 23-19 upset win over the Tampa Bay Bucs. He’ll be going against a defense that still struggles in third-down percentage (51.9%, 28th in the league) and rushing yards allowed per game (224, 32nd). The Browns’ defense — that turned opponents over without compunction in the preseason — seemed to return to form in Week 2, too.
Need more ahead of the game? Here’s a one-stop shop that covers everything you need ahead of Sunday’s game — from The Charlotte Observer’s score predictions, to broadcast information, to compelling betting lines. See all that below.
This week’s Panthers game will be televised on FOX. Chris Myers will handle the play-by-play duties, with Mark Schlereth as the analyst and Jen Hale as the sideline reporter.
How to listen on the radio:
The Panthers are 2.5-point favorites heading into Sunday, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under is 41.5 points.
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Here are three prop bets to consider before this game:
Beat writer Alex Zietlow maintained his lead last week after predicting the Panthers would beat the Falcons; he now sits at 2-0 on the year. Langston Wertz Jr. and Steve Wiseman sit at 1-1, with Scott Fowler bringing up the rear at 0-2 through two games of predictions.
Alex Zietlow: Browns 21, Panthers 14. The Panthers are indeed the more talented and less dysfunctional team. Their quarterback is soaring, and their defense has reset. Carolina should blow out the Browns if you look at this matchup closely.
Why am I predicting a loss then? Take a broader view: Every team suffers at least one strange, inexcusable, existence-rattling loss each year — and the Browns are overlooked enough and good enough to furnish that kind of defeat Sunday. Plus, the Panthers’ injury situation worries me. An additional prediction: This is the kind of loss that wakes the Panthers up for good the rest of the year.
Scott Fowler: Panthers 27, Browns 20. I haven’t been able to figure the Panthers out this season, having gone 0-2 so far. In my latest attempt, I’m counting on Bryce Young to outplay Deshaun Watson and Carolina to get to 2-1 heading into a big Sunday night home game vs. Detroit. Being without linebacker Devin Lloyd (calf) won’t help, though.
Langston Wertz: Panthers 24, Browns 17: Cleveland has only scored 33 points in two weeks, but is coming off an upset win over Tampa Bay. The Browns, and their anemic offense, won’t get two in a row. Glass half empty? Bryce Young has struggled against man-to-man defenses, completing just over 40 percent of his passes this year against that scheme, and Cleveland has played man on about half of its defensive snaps this year. Glass half full? Expect Chuba Hubbard to have a nice game against the 25th-ranked rushing defense in football and Carolina to go to 2-1.
Steve Wiseman: Panthers 24, Browns 10: Remember last week when the Panthers went on the road, jumped on a fragile QB and turned the home crowd against their home team? I foresee a similar pattern happening this week in Cleveland, where Browns fans seriously hate Deshaun Watson. Bryce Young continues his strong play.
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