Cleveland hosts Carolina in Week 3 after the Panthers' first win, a rout of Atlanta. The preview says Carolina's level is hard to gauge after its defense gave up 59 points and over 500 yards to Chicago the week before; Cleveland seeks consecutive wins after upsetting Tampa Bay.
The article says Carolina's win over Atlanta is difficult to judge because the Falcons started journeyman quarterback Cooper Rush before benching him for undrafted rookie Jack Strand. The writer says the Panthers could win the division again if both sides of the ball repeat their Atlanta performance, but questions whether they can win consistently if they rely on shootouts.
Bryce Young's cited season stats are six passing touchdowns (tied for first), 648 passing yards (second) and 8.9 yards per attempt (third). The article says his film shows explosive plays and good pocket footwork. Linebacker Devin Lloyd made an impact against Atlanta but missed Carolina's first two practices of the week. The Panthers also signed defensive end Jaelan Phillips; the writer says consistency remains key for the defense.
