Browns get the better of Panthers, improve to 2-1

After reaching the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade last season, the Carolina Panthers and their quarterback, Bryce Young, have continued their upward trajectory so far this year, scoring 71 points in their 2 opening games combined. They travelled to Cleveland without reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week, Devin Lloyd, however, who missed with a calf injury.

The Browns managed to find a spark that very few saw coming in Tampa Bay last week, responding to their shocking defeat at the hands of Jacksonville with an inspired win in adverse conditions, giving them a rare chance in recent years to hold a positive record after a few weeks of a season.

A scoreless first quarter saw 3 combined punts and very little offensive continuity, with Cleveland seeming to have the answers to cure Carolina’s offense that Chicago and Atlanta had not had in recent weeks.

Points finally came with under 6 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter, as Andre Szmyt was brought out for a 48-yard field goal, which at the time looked like every chance to be the only score of the afternoon with how the game was transpiring.

Carolina managed to turn the ball over on back-to-back 4th down attempts in their own territory, looking a complete shadow of the offense that had gotten off to such a hot start in 2026.

Harold Fannin Jr. found some rare space in the end zone, which Deshawn Watson rewarded with a perfectly thrown touchdown pass. While it wasn’t the most appealing game for neutral fans to cast their eyes upon, Cleveland looked to have recreated the style of game that led them to victory last weekend.

The Panthers finally found some offense before the half was over, ticking over the scoreboard for the first time with a field goal to slice the margin to 7 points.

Malachi Corley mishandled the second half’s opening kickoff, though was not made to pay full price by the Panthers’ offense, who settled for another field goal as they continued to hack away at what seemed like a bigger deficit than it really was.

Carolina had to settle for a 3rd consecutive field goal as they continued to eat into the lead, cutting it to just a singular point as the Browns attempted to cling on for a win against the odds.

Another drive came to an abrput end for the Browns, before the Panthers took the lead the only way they knew how – a 4th field goal from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Andre Szmyt’s second field goal wrenched back the lead for Cleveland, before Carolina finally had had enough of 3-pointers. Bryce Young found John Metchie III for a rare touchdown, giving the Panthers an 18-13 lead after a failed 2-point conversion.

Fresh off a game-winning drive in Tampa Bay, Watson and the Browns were able to replicate their heroics, as Fannin Jr. scored his second touchdown to snatch back the lead inside the 2-minute warning. Denzel Boston then added 2 points on the following conversion.

It proved to be the match-defining score, as the Cleveland defense held strong, with Ronnie Hickman picking off Young to clinch victory in a back-and-forth game that ended thrillingly.

Touchdowns
Carolina: Metchie III
Cleveland: Fannin Jr. 2

Top Performers
Carolina: Fitzgerald, Umanmielen, Tremayne, Hubbard
Cleveland: Fannin Jr., Watson, Szmyt, Graham, Hickman

Injuries
Carolina: Horn (quad), Jackson (groin), Coker (quad)
Cleveland: N/A

Crowd: TBC at Huntington Bank Field