Bryce Young threw for a sparkling 287 yards and three touchdowns against Atlanta, and I want to spend considerably more time with that development than with Carolina’s extraordinary five takeaways, impressive enough though that is. Dave Canales has let Young drop back on an aggressive 72.4% of neutral plays. Through two weeks, Young has generated an excellent +0.27 EPA/DB, up from a listless -0.02 last season. Carolina has begun asking its quarterback to drive the offense, and he has answered. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for this week’s NFL game between the Cleveland Browns and the Carolina Panthers.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Browns vs. Panthers prediction, preview
Cleveland can make that answer less fluent. The Browns have played man on a hefty 45.3% of defensive dropbacks; against man since 2025, Young has averaged a meager 5.18 YPA across a meaningful sample of 136 dropbacks. Tetairoa McMillan’s sturdy 2.05 YPRR against those looks are encouraging, though his maddening 117 uncatchable air yards this season are a reminder of how often opportunity still requires a better throw from Young.
Canales has another agreeable option in Chuba Hubbard, whose workload should grow with Jonathon Brooks on IR. Hubbard already handled a substantial 66% of Week 2 snaps and ran routes on an encouraging half of the dropbacks. Cleveland has allowed a generous 2.61 adj. YBC/ATT to RBs, enough initial space to make Hubbard central to this argument even if Young struggles to separate McMillan from tight coverage.
Across the field, Deshaun Watson completed a surgical 24 of 30 passes for a productive 238 yards and two touchdowns against Tampa Bay. Carolina will face him without linebackers Devin Lloyd and Claudin Cherelus or safety Nick Scott. Harold Fannin just caught an efficient five passes on six targets, and his healthy 2.04 YPRR against Cover 3 since 2025 suits the coverage Carolina deploys on a whopping 57.1% of its defensive dropbacks.
Panthers vs. Browns pick, best bet
I’d welcome a few productive Quinshon Judkins carries, too. He has scraped together a paltry 54 rushing yards on 24 attempts, so Carolina’s ghastly 6.31 YPC allowed cannot become his personal forecast. Chicago did much of that damage in the opener. Still, Judkins played a robust 69% of Cleveland’s Week 2 snaps, and the Panthers’ missing linebackers complicate their effort to sustain the defensive performance they enjoyed against Atlanta.
With Coker and Legette questionable, I keep the stake modest. My forecast requires a brisk 2.5 points per drive if each offense gets nine meaningful possessions. Young can keep throwing, Hubbard can work through Cleveland’s initial rushing space, and Watson can find Fannin against Carolina’s depleted middle. I expect both offenses to sustain drives; Carolina’s extraordinary five takeaways last week have supplied no extra possessions to this forecast.
Best bet: Over 41.5 (-115)
Final score: Panthers 24, Browns 21
