ESPN expects the Carolina Panthers to beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 3 easily.
The 1-1 Carolina Panthers face the 1-1 Cleveland Browns in Cleveland for the Browns' home opener in Week 3.
Carolina beat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 after losing to the Chicago Bears in Week 1.
Meanwhile, Cleveland defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 after falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1.
ESPN expects the Panthers to beat the Browns in Week 3 easily. Here is the breakdown:
Pam Maldonaldo: Panthers 23, Browns 16
Eric Moody: Panthers 24, Browns 17
Seth Walder: Panthers 30, Browns 21
After throwing for 361 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1 against the Bears, Panthers QB Bryce Young followed up with 287 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in Week 2 against the Falcons in Atlanta.
Young has 648 passing yards and six touchdown passes through two games. He joins Jake Delhomme, who led Carolina to a Super Bowl appearance, as the only quarterback in team history with three touchdown passes in each of the team's first two games of a season.
Not even former MVP Cam Newton did that.
It's very early, but Young is setting himself up for a huge payday next offseason. Young is making $12.1 million this season in year four of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million. It was picked up by Carolina in the offseason.
The Panthers didn't sign Young to an extension, so the QB has to play well again this season to earn a new deal next offseason and so far he's doing just that.
Young leads the NFL in passing touchdowns and ranks second in passing yards. He has completed 63% of his passes and his EPA per dropback is .24, seventh in the NFL.
Young led the Panthers to the playoffs last season, where Carolina lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round at home. It's been impressive to watch Young's turnaround in Carolina. Remember, Young was benched for Andy Dalton in 2024. When that happened, many people thought Young's days in Carolina were over.
However, the Alabama product kept his head down and worked. And now he's playing like a superstar QB.
Young enters the Panthers-Browns game with 8,939 passing yards, 55 passing touchdowns, 734 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in 48 NFL games. He's 15-31-0 as a starter.
The Panthers are tied with the New Orleans Saints for first place in the NFC South. New Orleans plays the 2-0 Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.
