Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns
CLEVELAND (Interstat) — The Carolina Panthers will visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field in an NFL game between teams that are each 1-1.
Carolina arrives after a 34-3 road win at Atlanta on Sunday. Bryce Young, the Panthers’ quarterback and a player to watch, threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns and added a 6-yard run in that victory. Chuba Hubbard rushed for 53 yards and caught two passes for 11 yards and a score, while Jonathon Brooks added 16 rushing yards. The Panthers opened the season with a home loss to Chicago, falling 59-37. Young also passed for 361 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 10 yards in that game, though Carolina could not keep pace.
Cleveland enters after a 23-19 road win at Tampa Bay on Sunday. Deshaun Watson, the Browns’ quarterback and a player to watch, completed 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns and rushed seven times for 22 yards. Quinshon Judkins added 21 rushing yards and 27 receiving yards. Raheim Sanders contributed on offense and special teams with two rushes, one reception and a 50-yard kickoff return. The Browns opened the season with a 34-10 loss at Jacksonville. Watson completed 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown and ran six times for 38 yards in that defeat.
The forecast at game time calls for 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Both teams will look to build momentum after split results through two weeks. Carolina will rely on Young’s recent form and a rushing attack that showed balance against Atlanta. Cleveland will counter with Watson’s efficiency and a short passing game that helped the Browns close out Tampa Bay. The Panthers are the visiting team, while the Browns will play at home. Both teams are seeking a 2-1 start.
Carolina’s schedule continues with a home game against Detroit. Cleveland’s next home game will be against Pittsburgh. The Browns will then travel to the N.Y. Jets, while Carolina will visit Philadelphia later in the season. Carolina also will face Tampa Bay, Green Bay, Denver, New Orleans, Baltimore and Minnesota, while Cleveland’s slate includes Baltimore, Tennessee, New Orleans, Houston, Las Vegas, Cincinnati and Atlanta. Those matchups remain ahead, but the focus Sunday is on a pair of 1-1 clubs seeking a second win.
Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Cleveland Browns 31, Carolina Panthers 22. Cleveland has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -2.5. The over/under for this game is 42.5.