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Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns: PFM Team Comparison

The Carolina Panthers hold a slight overall advantage over the Cleveland Browns in the current PFM ratings. Carolina separates itself through the less unsettled quarterback situation and the less severe offensive concern.

Current PFM Team Scores

Slight edgeCAR

Carolina Panthers

73.2PFM Team Score#29 NFL
CLE

Cleveland Browns

72.5PFM Team Score#30 NFL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns: Previous Meetings

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

Carolina Panthers0 wins
Cleveland Browns1 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

Quarterback is still a concern for both teams, but the Carolina Panthers carry less uncertainty than the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland's strongest counterargument is Defense. 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.

Carolina also brings the less severe offensive concern. Carolina adds the clearer long-term football direction. The counterargument matters, but it does not erase Carolina's slight overall advantage.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Carolina vs. Cleveland 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.

CARCarolina Panthers
CLECleveland Browns
Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Carolina Panthers 77.3, Cleveland Browns 67.8, edge CAR +9.5; Offense: Carolina Panthers 77.0, Cleveland Browns 71.9, edge CAR +5.1; Defense: Carolina Panthers 72.8, Cleveland Browns 82.5, edge CLE +9.7; Coaching Direction: Carolina Panthers 70.3, Cleveland Browns 73.3, edge CLE +3.0; Roster Depth: Carolina Panthers 69.1, Cleveland Browns 75.6, 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

Defense is one of the clearest reasons the Cleveland Browns sit higher. The unit gives the offense more chances to recover from a bad drive. The defense advantage is a real point in Cleveland's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Cleveland is that Carolina counters with the less unsettled quarterback situation and the less severe offensive concern.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

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

Overall NFL Rank

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

QB Stability

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

Roster Strength

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

Coaching Direction

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

Recent Performance

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

Offense

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

Defense

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

Franchise Direction

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

Explosiveness

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

Conference Rank

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

Division Rank

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

Outlook

CARPlayoff Long ShotCLEPlayoff Long Shot
Same outlook
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

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

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 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