After a dominant win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, the Carolina Panthers got trapped into a brutal loss on Sunday.
Here's everything we know from the Week 3 defeat to the Cleveland Browns . . .
Final score
Browns 21, Panthers 18
Keys to the game
- The scrambling ability of quarterback Deshaun Watson kept the Browns offense moving. He rushed for 45 yards on 11 attempts, and completed 16 of his 30 throws for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
- Watson also drew a roughing the passer penalty, on Panthers outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, that wiped out what could've been a game-clinching interception by Carolina. The flag came with the Panthers up 18-13 at the 2:29 mark of the fourth quarter and helped set up the eventual go-ahead score—an eight-yard touchdown to tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
- Cleveland's defense largely grounded Carolina's productive passing game, as quarterback Bryce Young averaged just 6.1 yards per attempt. They also recorded three sacks.
It was over when . . .
Down 21-18 with 16 seconds left, Young had his arm hit by Browns defensive end Derek Bartnett on a third-and-10 attempt from the Panthers' 42-yard line. The wobbly ball would land into the waiting arms of safety Ronnie Hickman, sealing the victory for Cleveland.
Players of the game
- CB Will Lee III: six tackles, pass defensed
- WR Brycen Tremayne: four receptions, 83 yards
- K Ryan Fitzgerald: four-of-four on field goal attempts (35, 41, 53, 37)
What's next?
The Panthers (1-2) will host the Detroit Lions (2-1) on Sunday night in Week 4.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns game recap: Everything we know from Week
3
