CLE
Cleveland Browns
70.9PFM Team Score#32 NFL
Cleveland Browns vs. Carolina Panthers: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the Carolina Panthers higher than the Cleveland Browns overall, with a slight advantage. The main reasons are the less unsettled quarterback situation and the clearer long-term football direction.
Current PFM Team Scores
Slight edgeCAR
Carolina Panthers
71.8PFM Team Score#30 NFL
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the Carolina Panthers Higher
Carolina has the better quarterback grade here. It is still not high enough to call the position a strength. Cleveland's strongest counterargument is Roster Strength. The Cleveland Browns have fewer roster problems than the Carolina Panthers, although the lineup still grades as a concern.
Carolina also brings the clearer long-term football direction. PFM still has the Carolina Panthers in front.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
Cleveland vs. Carolina Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
CLECleveland Browns
CARCarolina Panthers
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
Cleveland Browns’ Best Argument
Roster depth favors the Cleveland Browns only because Carolina has the deeper set of concerns. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Carolina still answers with the less unsettled quarterback situation and the clearer long-term football direction, which keeps the overall judgment in place.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
CLE70.9
Cleveland Browns 70.9CAR71.8
Carolina Panthers 71.8Overall NFL Rank
CLE#32
Cleveland Browns #32CAR#30
Carolina Panthers #30QB Stability
CLE66.9
Cleveland Browns 66.9CAR75.3
Carolina Panthers 75.3Roster Strength
CLE76.8
Cleveland Browns 76.8CAR69.3
Carolina Panthers 69.3Coaching Direction
CLE72.8
Cleveland Browns 72.8CAR70.6
Carolina Panthers 70.6Recent Performance
CLE66.0
Cleveland Browns 66.0CAR71.2
Carolina Panthers 71.2Offense
CLE70.7
Cleveland Browns 70.7CAR74.3
Carolina Panthers 74.3Defense
CLE80.9
Cleveland Browns 80.9CAR73.7
Carolina Panthers 73.7Franchise Direction
CLE69.4
Cleveland Browns 69.4CAR71.8
Carolina Panthers 71.8Explosiveness
CLE65.7
Cleveland Browns 65.7CAR73.7
Carolina Panthers 73.7Conference Rank
CLE#16
Cleveland Browns #16CAR#16
Carolina Panthers #16Division Rank
CLE#4
Cleveland Browns #4CAR#4
Carolina Panthers #4Outlook
CLERebuilding or Major ConcernsCARRebuilding or Major Concerns
Same outlookSCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Cleveland Browns
Remaining schedule rank: #31
Toughest stretch: Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals
Strongest opponents: Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Next five difficulty: 77.1
View Cleveland Browns Road AheadCarolina Panthers
Remaining schedule rank: #19
Toughest stretch: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions
Next five difficulty: 79.6
View Carolina Panthers Road AheadCarolina has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 19. The strongest opponents include Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions. Cleveland gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Carolina still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated September 15, 2026. Schedule data updated September 17, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams