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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 less severe offensive concern.

Current PFM Team Scores

CLE

Cleveland Browns

72.5PFM Team Score#30 NFL
Slight edgeCAR

Carolina Panthers

73.2PFM Team Score#29 NFL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Cleveland Browns vs. Carolina Panthers: Previous Meetings

Cleveland Browns lead the recorded series 1–0 over 1 meetings.

Cleveland Browns1 wins
Carolina Panthers0 wins
Recorded meetings1

Recent Meetings

DateMatchupFinalWinner
Sep 27, 2026Carolina Panthers at Cleveland Browns18–21Cleveland Browns
  1. Sep 27, 20262026 season
    Carolina PanthersAway18 – 21Cleveland BrownsHome
    Cleveland Browns won

Results shown: 2026. Scores since 1999: nflverse (CC BY 4.0). Earlier meetings that have not been verified are excluded.

Swap Teams Clear Comparison
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 Defense. The Cleveland Browns own the stronger defense. More dependable stops give the offense better field position and keep one bad drive from controlling the day.

Carolina also brings the less severe offensive concern. Carolina adds 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
Cleveland Browns vs. Carolina Panthers Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Cleveland Browns 67.8, Carolina Panthers 77.3, edge CAR +9.5; Offense: Cleveland Browns 71.9, Carolina Panthers 77.0, edge CAR +5.1; Defense: Cleveland Browns 82.5, Carolina Panthers 72.8, edge CLE +9.7; Coaching Direction: Cleveland Browns 73.3, Carolina Panthers 70.3, edge CLE +3.0; Roster Depth: Cleveland Browns 75.6, Carolina Panthers 69.1, edge CLE +6.5. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
THE COUNTERARGUMENT

Cleveland Browns’ Best Argument

The Browns can lean on their defense more than the Panthers can. That creates a better floor when the offense stalls or field position turns against the team. That is why the overall gap is smaller than the score first suggests. Carolina still answers with the less unsettled quarterback situation and the less severe offensive concern, which keeps the overall judgment in place.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

CLE72.5
Cleveland Browns 72.5
CAR73.2
Carolina Panthers 73.2
Slight Carolina Panthers edge

Overall NFL Rank

CLE#30
Cleveland Browns #30
CAR#29
Carolina Panthers #29
Carolina Panthers ranks higher

QB Stability

CLE67.8
Cleveland Browns 67.8
CAR77.3
Carolina Panthers 77.3
Clear Carolina Panthers edge

Roster Strength

CLE75.6
Cleveland Browns 75.6
CAR69.1
Carolina Panthers 69.1
Clear Cleveland Browns edge

Coaching Direction

CLE73.3
Cleveland Browns 73.3
CAR70.3
Carolina Panthers 70.3
Clear Cleveland Browns edge

Recent Performance

CLE73.6
Cleveland Browns 73.6
CAR75.8
Carolina Panthers 75.8
Clear Carolina Panthers edge

Offense

CLE71.9
Cleveland Browns 71.9
CAR77.0
Carolina Panthers 77.0
Clear Carolina Panthers edge

Defense

CLE82.5
Cleveland Browns 82.5
CAR72.8
Carolina Panthers 72.8
Clear Cleveland Browns edge

Franchise Direction

CLE69.5
Cleveland Browns 69.5
CAR71.9
Carolina Panthers 71.9
Clear Carolina Panthers edge

Explosiveness

CLE75.6
Cleveland Browns 75.6
CAR74.7
Carolina Panthers 74.7
Slight Cleveland Browns edge

Conference Rank

CLE#14
Cleveland Browns #14
CAR#16
Carolina Panthers #16
Cleveland Browns ranks higher

Division Rank

CLE#4
Cleveland Browns #4
CAR#4
Carolina Panthers #4
Even rank

Outlook

CLEPlayoff Long ShotCARPlayoff Long Shot
Same outlook
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Cleveland Browns

Remaining schedule rank: #27

Toughest stretch: Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals

Strongest opponents: Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans

Next five difficulty: 77.5

View Cleveland Browns Road Ahead

Carolina Panthers

Remaining schedule rank: #19

Toughest stretch: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks

Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers

Next five difficulty: 77.3

View Carolina Panthers Road Ahead

Carolina has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 19. The strongest opponents include Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Carolina still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated November 3, 2026. Schedule data updated November 9, 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.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams