4 primary factors behind the Panthers demise in Week 1 vs. Browns

What were the primary factors behind another demoralizing Carolina Panthers’ loss in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns?

The Carolina Panthers dropped to 0-1 on the season after losing Baker Mayfield’s revenge matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The quarterback led a furious fourth-quarter comeback that saw the home team take a two-point lead late on, but the defense couldn’t get it done late and they were undone by a mammoth field goal from rookie Cade York.

Penalties and two nice plays from Jacoby Brissett put the Browns in position to kick a prayer of a field goal that started wide right and somehow twisted inside the right upright for the game-winning moment.

It was a sickening way for a great comeback attempt to end. Something that only added to the level of frustration within Bank of America Stadium.

Carolina had a chance to put the Browns away late and failed. And the team could have gone for the throat rather than settle for three points in the red zone.

Mayfield was far from perfect versus his former team. But the signal-caller did everything he could to put the Panthers in a position to come back from the brink.

Instead, late calls and a phenomenal kick changed the result and put the Panthers in some familiar, frustrating territory.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at the four primary factors that contributed significantly to Carolina’s eventual demise in Week 1.