The Daily Sports Page

All eyes in Cleveland will be on Deshaun Watson when the Browns open their regular-season home slate Sunday. Watson completed 24 of 30 passes in last week’s 23-19 victory at Tampa Bay for 238 yards and two touchdowns, a performance that followed a torrid start to the season — his 76.9% completion rate ranks second in the NFL and last week marked his sixth career start with an 80% or better completion rate. The Browns are 1-1 and have not been 2-1 since 2023; coach Todd Monken reiterated this week that production on the field is the clearest path to winning back a skeptical fan base, and Watson himself said he was unsure whether the win would change the reception he receives at home.

Cleveland’s ground game has been a concern through two games, with the team averaging just 65.5 rushing yards. The defense, however, still boasts a long-standing strength: the Browns have not allowed a 300-yard passer in 47 games. That defensive resilience will be tested by a Carolina offense that has scored at least 30 points in each of its first two games for the first time in franchise history and features QB Bryce Young, who ranks second in the league in both total touchdowns (seven) and passing yards (648) while leading the NFL with nine completions of at least 25 yards.

A key matchup will be Panthers tight end Darren Waller against Cleveland’s linebackers. Waller, a veteran addition intended to bolster Carolina’s red-zone work, had two touchdown catches at Atlanta after having a scoring play wiped out in Week 1. He joins a receiving corps that includes Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker; Carolina’s run defense has been uneven, yielding 291 rushing yards in Week 1 before allowing just 68 on the ground in Week 2. On the other side, Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton had five catches for 38 yards against the Browns in Week 2, underscoring the Browns’ need to limit opponents’ tight-end production.

The game kicks off Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT on FOX, with Carolina listed as a 2½-point favorite. Both teams enter at 1-1 after the Panthers’ 34-3 win at Atlanta and Cleveland’s win in Tampa Bay. Series history slightly favors Carolina, 4-3, though Cleveland has taken three of the last four meetings; the clubs last met on Sept. 11, 2022, with the Browns prevailing 26-24 in Charlotte. Roster notes include Browns rookie receiver Denzel Boston leading rookies with 154 receiving yards, KC Concepcion with 71 yards, and linebacker Carson Schwesinger recording at least 10 tackles in eight of his last nine games.