In the first two weeks, the Panthers have had two polarizing, heavily skewed game outcomes. One was a high-scoring loss, and the other was a high-scoring win, with both outcomes hinging on the defense.
As Carolina marches into Week 3, it should focus on refinement. The Panthers have shown they can score. They’ve shown they can play defense. Now, they have to prove they can put it all together consistently.
This week, the Panthers continue their road journey and head to Cleveland to face the Browns.
Although Cleveland came away with a win last week, head coach Todd Monken doesn’t seem to fully trust quarterback Deshaun Watson. In that game, the offense threw a lot of short passes and throws over the middle rather than anything downfield.
Real dink-and-dunk plays. It was serviceable, nothing flashy, and it enabled Cleveland to squeak away with the win.
Make Watson Uncomfortable
This week, much of the focus should once again be on Evero and his defensive schemes. The defense played great last week, and now it has to execute again to prove it wasn’t a fluke.
Look for the defense to blitz more and make Watson uncomfortable in the pocket. If he does take any shots downfield, Carolina’s chances of Jaycee Horn or Mike Jackson coming down with the ball over Jerry Jeudy and KC Concepcion should be favorable.
Devin Lloyd had an All-Star performance last week. Can Jaelan Phillips on the edge finally show off the new pass rush Panthers fans have been clamoring for?
Watson has already been sacked seven times through the first two weeks, including five times in Week 1 against Jacksonville. If Carolina keeps up the pressure it showed last week, Watson could find himself in another long day behind that offensive line.
Whether it is a fumble off a sack or a forced throw downfield, turnovers can happen when Watson doesn’t stay safe behind his offensive line.
Another advantage for Carolina’s defense is that Cleveland hasn’t been able to establish much of a running game. With Dylan Sampson sidelined on IR, Quinshon Judkins has carried the ball 24 times for just 54 yards through two weeks, averaging 2.3 yards per carry.
The Browns managed only 44 rushing yards on 23 attempts against Tampa Bay last week. Without an opposing run game, Cleveland can’t consistently run the ball and force Carolina to respect it, making it harder to open up the passing game downfield later.
Keep the Offense Rolling
On offense, it’s as simple as continuing to do what they’ve been doing. Brad’s play calling has been a refreshing change of pace, and it’s been paying dividends.
Over two weeks, Carolina’s offense has averaged roughly 34 points a game. With a slight hiccup in the backfield as Jonathan Brooks is sidelined on IR, the offense looks more comfortable.
The only major holdback so far is penalties. If those come down, Carolina’s offense gets even scarier.
Cleveland’s X-Factor
If the defense continues to atone for its Week 1 transgressions and plays at the caliber it did in Week 2, the Browns’ fan base at home could quickly turn on its team.
Many have already spoken out about Watson and his performances, as well as the organization’s decisions throughout the summer.
If this game goes south for the whole team, the call for Sanders may actually get answered.
Sanders could be the Browns’ secret X-factor. With Watson operating under a limited, truncated playbook, Sanders could unlock the offense and add another dimension for Cleveland.
Whether the Browns use that counterpunch if they face that decision is still up in the air. But if that does happen, can the Panthers’ coordinators respond and adjust accordingly?
Don’t Fall for the Trap
If the Panthers can clean up around the edges of their offense and keep playing at the same level on defense, they can avoid the trap the Buccaneers fell into last week.
Right now, the Cleveland Browns are an NFL litmus test. A team isn’t in any real meaningful conversation if it loses to the Cleveland Browns.
But Carolina doesn’t want to walk into enemy territory and outright disrespect Cleveland. The Panthers don’t want the game against them to be the one where the Browns finally figure themselves out.
That’s the danger of this matchup.
The Panthers have already shown they can put up points. They’ve shown they can dominate defensively. Now comes the next step: putting both sides together and proving the first two weeks weren’t anomalies.
Cleveland may not look like a team Carolina should fear, but that’s exactly what makes this game dangerous.
Prediction: Panthers 34, Browns 10.
Leave a comment