NFL 2026
Week 3 · Sunday, September 27, 2026 · Huntington Bank Field · 65,023 attended
Game Recap

Browns Edge Panthers 21-18 in Week 3

Cleveland Browns 21, Carolina Panthers 18 at Huntington Bank Field. Deshaun Watson went 16 of 30 for 144 yards with 2 touchdowns.

Read the recap →

Quarter Scoring

Team Q1Q2Q3Q4 Total
Panthers
0369 18
Browns
010011 21

Browns Leaders

Passing Yards
Deshaun Watson
16/30, 144 YDS, 2 TD
Rushing Yards
Quinshon Judkins
18 CAR, 70 YDS
Receiving Yards
Harold Fannin Jr.
7 REC, 51 YDS, 2 TD

Panthers Leaders

Passing Yards
Bryce Young
26/48, 291 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Yards
Chuba Hubbard
19 CAR, 82 YDS
Receiving Yards
Brycen Tremayne
4 REC, 83 YDS
Tackles

Team Stats

Panthers Stat Browns
24 1st Downs 17
17 Passing 1st downs 7
4 Rushing 1st downs 7
3 1st downs from penalties 3
4-15 3rd down efficiency 5-15
0-3 4th down efficiency 2-3
74 Total Plays 63
360 Total Yards 259
4.9 Yards per Play 4.1
12 Total Drives 13
262 Passing 127
26/48 Comp/Att 17/31
5.1 Yards per pass 3.8
1 Interceptions thrown 0
3-29 Sacks-Yards Lost 2-17
98 Rushing 132
23 Rushing Attempts 30
4.3 Yards per rush 4.4
1-3 Red Zone (Made-Att) 2-3
7-63 Penalties 12-84
1 Turnovers 1
0 Fumbles lost 1
1 Interceptions thrown 0
0 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0
29:53 Possession 30:07

Scoring Plays

9 scores
Q2 5:43
Andre Szmyt 48 Yd Field Goal
0–3
Q2 1:37
Harold Fannin Jr. 2 Yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Andre Szmyt Kick)
0–10
Q2 0:27
Ryan Fitzgerald 35 Yd Field Goal
3–10
Q3 13:22
Ryan Fitzgerald 41 Yd Field Goal
6–10
Q3 3:17
Ryan Fitzgerald 53 Yd Field Goal
9–10
Q4 11:41
Ryan Fitzgerald 37 Yd Field Goal
12–10
Q4 7:30
Andre Szmyt 45 Yd Field Goal
12–13
Q4 4:25
John Metchie III 8 Yd pass from Bryce Young (Two-Point Run Conversion Failed)
18–13
Q4 1:48
Harold Fannin Jr. 14 Yd pass from Deshaun Watson (Deshaun Watson Pass to Denzel Boston for Two-Point Conversion)
18–21

Week 3: Panthers Visit Browns With Both Teams Coming Off Their Best Games

Read the full recap →

The Carolina Panthers visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, September 27. Carolina is 1-1 after a 34-3 win at Atlanta in which Bryce Young threw three touchdown passes and the defense forced five turnovers, one week after allowing 59 points to Chicago. Cleveland is 1-1 after a 23-19 win at Tampa Bay in which Deshaun Watson went 24 of 30 with two touchdowns and no turnovers, a game that included a lightning delay of more than two hours; Todd Monken has not committed to Watson beyond that game, and running back Dylan Sampson is on injured reserve.

Which Carolina defense shows up

Fifty-nine points allowed in Week 1, three in Week 2; the Falcons' quarterback play explains part of the swing but not all of it.

Watson's audition continues

A 121.9 rating with his job reportedly under evaluation; Cleveland's Week 3 starter was not confirmed on Monday.

Young's form

Three touchdowns against Atlanta after 361 yards against Chicago; the Panthers are averaging 35 points.

Pregame AI Prediction

Winner called correctly Confidence: Low

How the prediction did

Predicted 20-23 (Panthers vs Browns), final was 18-21. Right winner and the 3-point margin called exactly. Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes to Harold Fannin Jr., the second a 14-yarder in the fourth quarter, and Cleveland won despite being outgained 360 to 259.

Panthers
20
47% to win
VS
Browns
23
53% to win
Panthers 47% Browns 53%

Home field decides a coin flip

Both teams lost badly in one game and won convincingly in the other; Cleveland's defense held Tampa Bay to 19.

Carolina's defense is the less trustworthy unit

The five-turnover game came against Cooper Rush; the Browns will not give it away like that.

Young is the better quarterback on current form

The Panthers have scored 71 points, which is why this is a 3-point lean and not more.

A Low-confidence home lean. The model gives Carolina's offense a real chance to win outright on the road.

Venue

Huntington Bank Field
Cleveland, OH
Attendance: 65,023

Closing Line

CAR -2.5
O/U 41.5
via DraftKings

Officials

Brad Freeman Back Judge
Mark Pellis Umpire
Jabir Walker Field Judge
Land Clark Referee
Dave Hawkshaw Side Judge

Futures odds for these teams

Super Bowl futures, win totals & where to bet

FanDuel Sportsbook: Get $200 in Bonus Bets When You Wager $5 for 4 Days. New customers only. Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook, verify your account, and make a deposit of at least $5. Place a single online real-money wager of $5+ between 3 AM ET and 11:59 PM ET each day for 4 consecutive days starting from your first eligible wager. Maximum bonus of $50 per day ($200 total). Bonus issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire 7 days after receipt. The 4-day period begins once you're opted in to the promotion. Eligibility and state restrictions apply. See the current offer and full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.

21+ and present in select states. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).

Fanatics Sportsbook: Up to $1,000 in FanCash Matched Bets. New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV or WY. Apply the promotion in your bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting the day of account creation. FanCash rewards equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash per day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, including FanCash terms, apply - see the Fanatics Sportsbook app.

21+ and present in a state where Fanatics Sportsbook operates. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Touchdown Week may earn a commission when you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. Please bet responsibly.

Browns Injuries

Kalia Davis
DT · Not Specified
Injured Reserve
Teven Jenkins
G · Not Specified
Injured Reserve
Raheim Sanders
RB · Not Specified
Injured Reserve
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
LB · Not Specified
Out
Edefuan Ulofoshio
LB · Not Specified
Injured Reserve

Panthers Injuries

Torricelli Simpkins III
G · Not Specified
Questionable
Damien Lewis
G · Not Specified
Questionable
Bobby Brown III
DT · Not Specified
Questionable
Will Lee III
CB · Not Specified
Questionable
Jaelan Phillips
LB · Not Specified
Questionable