The Browns are back at Huntington Bank Field, where they will face the Panthers on Sept. 27 in their home opener.
After the Browns grinded out a hard-fought win over the Buccaneers in Week 2, head coach Todd Monken praised his team's effort following the two-game road trip to start the season. He also expressed enthusiasm about playing at home for the first time this year.
"I commend our players and our coaches to come back 1-1," Monken said. "We would have liked to be 2-0, but that's the NFL. We're excited to come back home and make it a hard place for the (Carolina) Panthers to play this weekend."
Here are three burning questions entering Week 3.
How will the Browns limit QB Bryce Young and Panthers' pass catchers?
As the Browns take the field against the Panthers, they will face one of the NFL's hottest offenses. Through two weeks, QB Byrce Young ranks third in the NFL with 648 passing yards while his six passing touchdowns are tied for the most. He has one interception and is averaging 8.9 yards per attempt, which ranks fourth in the league.
On the outside, the Panthers have two wide receivers who are top 15 in receiving yards in WR Jalen Coker and WR Tetairoa McMillan. Coker ranks ninth with 204 receiving yards while McMillan's 176 yards rank as the 12th most.
The Browns' defense has allowed 205 passing yards per game over the first two weeks, which ranks 16th in the NFL. In Week 2, they limited QB Baker Mayfield to just 182 yards on 34 attempts and contained the Buccaneers' top wide receiving duo of WR Emeka Egbuka and WR Chris Godwin to a combined 62 receiving yards.
To slow down Young and the Panthers' wide receiver duo, the Browns will aim to have their pass rush and coverage work together — a teamwide mindset that they have adopted this season. As the Browns look to apply pressure with their attack-style front four — to go along with their coverage on the back end — they will also try to contain Young's mobility, which is a tool that allows him to make big plays.
In the secondary, execution will be paramount. With multiple standout players, including CB Denzel Ward, the Browns' secondary will aim to counter Coker and McMillan's effectiveness.
"They got a good receiving corps, and they mold well with each other," Ward said. "They've been putting a lot of points on the board, and we just got to execute and do our job though."
How will the Browns take advantage of the Panthers' run defense?
As the Browns head into the matchup with Carolina, they are averaging 65.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks 31st in the NFL. Through two games, QB Deshaun Watson is Cleveland's leading rusher, totaling 13 carries for 60 yards. RB Quinshon Judkins leads the Browns with 24 rush attempts, but he has recorded only 54 yards on the ground.
On the other side, the Panthers' defense has allowed 224 rushing yards per game through two weeks, the most in the NFL. They allowed both Bears RB Kyle Monangai and RB D'Andre Swift to rush for 100 yards in Week 1 and gave up 157 rushing yards on 32 attempts to the Falcons in Week 2.
"We just got to keep pushing," Watson said. "We got to keep getting our corners and our run fits right and just keep pushing forward and keep striving. It's hard to run in this league. It's hard. You look around the league and every game there's not too many rushing yards. So, teams are doing a good job of packing the paint, and you got to earn it."
A big part of the Browns' rushing attack's success is the offensive line continuing to grow together and build chemistry. Overhauled from a season ago, the unit is entering their third regular game together and still learning how to play alongside one another. Judkins has been impressed by what he's seen from the offensive line so far and is confident in them moving forward.
"The good thing is all of us have great chemistry," Judkins said. "I love my teammates, I love how hard they work, and they're young players, Austin (Barber), (Spencer) Fano, Zion (Johnson) even — he has more experience. But in all, this is all our first time playing together, and they continue to get better each week we go out and we see different looks and we see different things on film. And (I'm) just letting them know that I support them and I still go out each play and encourage them and know that I'm there for them and that we're in this together."
How will the Browns involve their playmakers in the pass game?
While the Panthers' defense has struggled to defend the run, they have been effective at limiting opposing teams' top playmakers through the air. Carolina held the Bears' top receiving trio of WR Luther Burden III, TE Colston Loveland and WR Rome Odunze to a combined seven receptions on 10 targets for 115 yards and limited the Falcons' top receiving duo of WR Drake London and TE Kyle Pitts to five combined catches for 66 yards in Week 2.
On the offensive side, the Brown Denzel Boston the football through the first two games. He leads the team with 154 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. The chemistry that Boston has established with Watson has been critical to that success, and continuing the connection against the Panthers looks to be an important factor in the offense's success.
In addition to Boston, both WR KC Concepcion Jr. and TE Harold Fannin Jr. have made an impact in the pass game. Concepcion is tied with Boston's 11 targets for a team lead while Fannin is third on the Browns with nine through the first two games. Fannin had 54 receiving yards against the Buccaneers, including a critical third down conversion on the go-ahead touchdown drive.
To get the Browns' weapons the ball, the offense will look to focus on executing each play call. Watson noted that each week's tailored game plan has an impact on target distribution, and the Browns will aim to take what the Panthers give them while finding open receivers.
"You just got to go based off the game plan and how the defense is trying to play us," Watson said. "Certain plays are not really directed towards certain guys all the time, you just got to find the open guy."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr. (1) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Jaleel McLaughlin (38) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Krys Barnes (43) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive Coordinator Travis Switzer during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Bub Means (81) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Fullback Michael Burton (34) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (19) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Taylen Green (15) and Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr. (1) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Khordae Sydnor (90) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Taylen Green (15) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Fullback Michael Burton (34) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr. (1) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Khordae Sydnor (90) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (19) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Logan Fano (99) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Carsen Ryan (48) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive lineman Adin Huntington (98) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Line Development Assistant LaRoy Reynolds during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (19) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Krys Barnes (43) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Run Game Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (19) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) and Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Taylen Green (15) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive Coordinator Travis Switzer during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Krys Barnes (43) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Krys Barnes (43) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive guard Zion Johnson (77) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Run Game Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Raheim Sanders (23) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Krys Barnes (43) during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive Coordinator Travis Switzer during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Bub Means (81) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The linebackers during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and Defensive end Jared Verse (8) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Punter Wes Pahl (36) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Derek Barnett (97) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (0) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive Analyst Travis Monken during practice on September 23, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Derek Barnett (97) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Zion Washington (30) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Donovan McMillon (31) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Coach Mike Bajakian during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Jaleel McLaughlin (38) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Eric Gray (41) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Taylen Green (15) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. (19) during practice on September 24, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
