NFL Football
2026-09-27 - Carolina Panthers at Cleveland Browns
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 3
Sunday 27th September 2026 - Scheduled 1pm EST
6pm (British Time)
Preview
Both of these teams enter this non-Conference game in Week 3 with the same 1-1 record having bounced back from Week 1 losses.
The Carolina Panthers (1-1) really impressed by going into Atlanta and crushing the NFC South rivals, while the Cleveland Browns (1-1) upset the odds as a big underdog when beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. These wins are impressive considering the way the Panthers and Browns were beaten in Week 1 and Cleveland will be looking to build on the success in the home opener.
That brings motivation, but the Browns have to make sure they are focused and not thinking to the Week 4 game against AFC North rivals Pittsburgh Steelers, which is set to be played on Thursday Night Football.
Deshaun Watson remains the starter for the Cleveland Browns, but the Quarter Back will be aware that there are plenty of critics ready to call for him to be removed as soon as he hits a rough patch. In the win over the Buccaneers, Watson had almost 240 passing yards to go with the 2 Touchdowns thrown, while avoiding an Interception is a huge positive for the Quarter Back and the Cleveland Browns.
He will be confident heading into the first home game of the 2026 season, but Deshaun Watson will be keen to see the Offensive Line pick up their play and start opening up significant running lanes to keep him in positive field position. An injury on the Line does not help, but Cleveland are facing a Panthers Defensive Line that had been gashed in Week 1 and that will offer them some encouragement.
It will help Deshaun Watson, who is going to be facing a Carolina Secondary that have performed pretty well through the opening two weeks.
They have been helped by the pass rush pressure that the Panthers have been able to generate and the Cleveland Offensive Line have struggled when it comes to giving Watson the time he may need at the Quarter Back position. This is going to be important for the Panthers as they bid to get the ball in the hands of Bryce Young and an Offensive unit that has impressed through the opening two games, even if the record says those games have been split.
Balance is the key for the Carolina Panthers and they have found that Offensively with the team able to run the ball as well as Bryce Young has been able to throw the ball.
The Carolina Offensive Line will believe they can impose themselves on this Browns Defensive Line and keeping the Quarter Back in third and manageable spots will give the Panthers the edge. It will mean slowing down any pass rush that the Cleveland Browns can generate and Bryce Young has shown that he has grown into the system with his own performance in the opening two games having helped the Panthers into the Playoffs last season.
Cleveland could be without a couple of key Secondary performers if they do not want to risk those with issues ahead of a Thursday Night Football, and that should give Bryce Young an opportunity to continue his strong start to the year.
Conditions should be comfortable for the Carolina Panthers and the added balance on the Offensive side of the ball should be the key to giving the road team the edge.
The Panthers have not always been the best on the road with Bryce Young under Center, but the win last week in Atlanta should have given them plenty of momentum and they may do enough Offensively to give Deshaun Watson and the Browns too much to do.
Prediction
Lay the points with the narrow road favourite in this non-Conference game.
The Pick :
Cleveland Browns 17-24 Carolina Panthers
