It might be easy to look past the Cleveland Browns after the Carolina Panthers took care of the Atlanta Falcons so easily. But that would be a big mistake.
Everyone is gearing up to see this team — offense, quarterback, and defense under the lights — versus a high-powered Detroit Lions offense on Sunday Night Football in Week 4. Yet, the mark of a good team isn’t playing up to its competition; it’s not allowing itself to play down.
As they did in Atlanta, the Panthers need to walk into Cleveland on a mission.
Carolina Panthers cannot underestimate Browns offense in Week 3
Carolina needs to show this is a team that grew through last year's up-and-down volatility, rolling in both phases. Most importantly, this defense needs to prove Sunday's results weren't a product of a third-string quarterback but of their talent and coaching.
In theory, this should be simple for Carolina's defense.
On the surface, Cleveland is one of the NFL's worst rushing offenses. According to Sharp Football Analytics, the Browns are averaging a league-low 2.5 yards per rush on early downs and are the worst team in the league in yards before contact on runs at 0.32 yards. If Carolina is gap sound and physical, they should see just as much success against Quinshon Judkins as they did with Bijan Robinson.
Even so, this defense struggles to keep quarterbacks in the pocket and lets them make big plays with their legs. So far, Deshaun Watson has done just that for Cleveland.
Watson is currently their team's leading rusher with 60 yards and leads the team in yards per carry at 4.6. The player once coveted so heavily by the Panthers could be a big issue with 26 yards after contact and a +5.0 EPA per rush.
Keeping Deshaun Watson in the pocket is key to Carolina Panthers' success
Carolina cannot allow another quarterback to beat them with their legs as Chicago Bears star Caleb Williams did.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Carolina has played well against the pass.
Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. are the league leaders in lowest catch yards over expected, and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips has a sack in both games. That will be crucial in Cleveland.
Watson looks like he’s playing better, throwing for 443 yards and three touchdowns with a 76.9 completion percentage. But he only has 12 pass attempts over 10+ air yards.
To put that into perspective, Bryce Young has attempted 11 passes over 20 air yards alone this season.
The Browns offense relies on short passes and check-downs, with explosive plays after the catch. Watson has thrown for 443 yards this season; 260, or 58% of those yards, came after the catch. With four players having more than 40 yards after the catch, Carolina’s secondary will have its hands full.
Atlanta had players similar to Cleveland's best guys in Robinson and Zacharia Branch. The Panthers rallied around the ball and took angles to cut off running lanes underneath as they sold out against the run and quick outlets, not fearing Cooper Rush’s deep ball. If Carolina's secondary plays aggressively and tackles well, they should easily corral the Browns' offense.
Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, and Cleveland's offense has some spots of strength that Carolina struggles in.
Yet, if the Panthers want to prove to the league they are a real playoff threat, not just the sneaky team no one wants to see, they must inflict their will from the moment they land in Ohio.
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