When the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns meet on the gridiron, it’s more than just another game — it’s a clash between two franchises trying to establish identity and consistency in the modern NFL. From their dramatic regular-season meeting in 2022 to their more recent preseason matchup in 2025, each game has revealed crucial insights about their rosters, offensive schemes, and future prospects.
Below, we dive into the Carolina Panthers vs Cleveland Browns match player stats, exploring both encounters to highlight individual performances, team efficiency, and what these numbers tell us about each team’s direction.
2022 Regular-Season Clash: Key Player Statistics
The regular-season game on September 11, 2022, was a tightly contested affair that ended with a 26–24 Browns victory. Beyond the scoreline, the statistical breakdown tells a vivid story of control, execution, and missed opportunities.
Team-Level Performance
The Browns accumulated 355 total yards compared to the Panthers’ 261. Cleveland dominated time of possession with 38 minutes and 26 seconds, while Carolina had the ball for just 21 minutes and 34 seconds. The Browns’ ground game was a huge factor, piling up 217 rushing yards against Carolina’s mere 54. Although both teams suffered penalties and mistakes, Cleveland’s ability to sustain drives proved decisive.
Individual Player Highlights
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Jacoby Brissett (CLE, QB): 18 completions on 34 attempts for 147 yards, 1 touchdown, and no interceptions.
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Nick Chubb (CLE, RB): 22 carries for 141 yards, showing elite efficiency and consistency throughout the game.
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Kareem Hunt (CLE, RB): 11 carries for 46 yards and 1 rushing TD; also contributed 4 receptions for 24 yards and another score.
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Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE, WR): 6 receptions for 60 yards, proving reliable on key downs.
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Baker Mayfield (CAR, QB): 16 completions on 27 attempts for 235 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and an additional rushing TD.
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Christian McCaffrey (CAR, RB): 10 carries for 33 yards and a touchdown, plus 4 catches for 24 yards.
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Robbie Anderson (CAR, WR): 5 receptions for 102 yards, including a spectacular 75-yard touchdown.
Tactical Breakdown
Cleveland’s formula was simple but effective: a strong running game and controlled tempo. The Browns’ offensive line created gaps for both Chubb and Hunt, enabling Cleveland to dictate pace and rhythm. With their running success, Brissett didn’t need to take many risks through the air, opting for short, high-percentage passes.
The Panthers’ defence struggled to stop the run or get off the field on third down. Offensively, Mayfield’s long-ball accuracy was impressive, particularly on the deep touchdown to Anderson, but Carolina’s inability to sustain drives left their defence fatigued. In contrast, Cleveland’s final 58-yard field goal in the dying seconds underscored the Browns’ composure and execution under pressure.
This game ultimately revealed that Carolina lacked balance — too reliant on big plays and not enough control in the trenches. Cleveland’s steady, ground-first identity secured the win.
2025 Preseason Encounter: New Faces, Familiar Themes
Fast forward to August 8, 2025. Though a preseason game, the meeting again showcased the contrasting trajectories of these two teams. The Browns cruised to a 30–10 victory, using their depth and emerging talents to full effect.
Quarterback Play
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Shedeur Sanders (CLE, QB): The rookie was impressive, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. His poise and accuracy were notable, especially in red-zone situations.
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Tyler Huntley (CLE, QB): Added stability off the bench, going 6 of 8 for 51 yards and 1 touchdown.
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Bryce Young (CAR, QB): In limited action, completed 4 of 6 passes for 58 yards and 1 touchdown, showing flashes of precision and pocket awareness.
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Andy Dalton (CAR, QB): 13 of 19 for 101 yards but threw 1 interception.
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Jack Plummer (CAR, QB): 6 of 10 for 79 yards in mop-up duty.
Rushing and Receiving Leaders
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Ahmani Marshall (CLE): 8 carries for 32 yards.
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Toa Taua (CLE): 5 carries for 30 yards.
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Emani Bailey (CAR): 3 carries for 21 yards.
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Kaden Davis (CLE, WR): 3 catches for 23 yards and 2 touchdowns, becoming Sanders’ go-to red-zone target.
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Tetairoa McMillan (CAR, WR): 2 receptions for 43 yards, providing one of Carolina’s few offensive highlights.
Team Metrics and Discipline
Cleveland totaled 308 offensive yards to Carolina’s 251. Both teams committed six penalties, but Carolina’s 60 penalty yards compared to Cleveland’s 34 reflected a continuing discipline issue. The Browns’ defensive front pressured Carolina’s quarterbacks consistently, limiting their rhythm and forcing errant throws.
The game also saw tempers flare early, resulting in ejections for Carolina’s Xavier Legette and Cleveland’s Rayshawn Jenkins — a reminder that even preseason intensity can boil over when competition for roster spots runs high.
What It Revealed
While the scoreboard mattered little for standings, it mattered for confidence and evaluation. Sanders’ two touchdown drives showcased Cleveland’s future promise, while Carolina’s struggles hinted at ongoing development issues. Bryce Young’s brief efficiency was encouraging, but the team’s overall lack of balance and protection remains a recurring problem.
Comparative Insights: 2022 vs 2025
1. Ground Game and Control
In both contests, Cleveland established superiority in rushing efficiency. In 2022, Chubb and Hunt’s dynamic duo dominated possession. In 2025, the depth behind the line proved equally reliable, maintaining balance even with backups. Carolina’s continued difficulty defending the run remains a major concern.
2. Quarterback Stability
Cleveland’s approach to quarterback play emphasizes control and minimizing mistakes. Brissett managed the 2022 game efficiently, while Sanders displayed both composure and playmaking ability in 2025. For Carolina, the position has been a revolving door — from Mayfield to Young — and until consistent chemistry is found, offensive success will be sporadic.
3. Penalties and Discipline
In both games, Cleveland displayed sharper discipline. The Browns have shown the ability to minimize mental errors and handle crucial moments calmly. Carolina, however, struggled with penalties, poor timing, and breakdowns that stalled drives. The 2025 preseason performance reflected this ongoing pattern.
4. Defensive Identity
Cleveland’s defensive units have built a reputation for physical play. In 2022, they limited Carolina’s rushing attempts to negligible yardage. In 2025, they again showcased a deep rotation capable of sustaining pressure. The Panthers’ defensive front, meanwhile, continues to battle inconsistency, showing flashes of aggression but lacking the stamina to match Cleveland’s sustained physicality.
5. Psychological Momentum
Momentum plays an invisible but crucial role. The Browns ended a long drought of Week 1 victories in 2022, signaling a shift in mindset. The 2025 preseason win reinforced this trajectory — a team that expects to win, not one that hopes to. For Carolina, these repeated losses reveal not just tactical gaps but confidence issues that must be addressed before the regular season.
Lessons & Future Outlook
The numbers make it clear: Cleveland has consistently outperformed Carolina across their recent encounters by excelling in fundamentals — running the ball effectively, protecting the quarterback, maintaining discipline, and capitalizing on key moments.
For the Panthers, the key to improvement lies in line play and balance. Their offensive line must give Bryce Young the time he needs to operate efficiently, and the defence must close running lanes more effectively. A talented roster can only succeed when its core fundamentals align.
For the Browns, integrating a promising young quarterback like Shedeur Sanders into a system already built on strong rushing and disciplined defence could transform them from perennial hopefuls into genuine AFC contenders.
Conclusion
From Baker Mayfield’s emotional 2022 debut to Shedeur Sanders’ confident 2025 preseason showing, the Carolina Panthers vs Cleveland Browns matchups continue to highlight contrasting philosophies — one team searching for consistent identity, the other building on a foundation of balance and control.
The player stats don’t just reflect numbers; they reveal patterns — how Cleveland’s steady structure contrasts with Carolina’s flashes of brilliance. As both franchises evolve, these games may well become markers of how each adjusts to the demands of modern football.
For readers of Blog Loom, this matchup illustrates more than a contest between two teams — it’s a reminder that success in football, as in life, is built on fundamentals: discipline, execution, and adaptability.
