The Cleveland Browns traveled to Bank of America Stadium to face the Carolina Panthers in their 2025 NFL preseason opener, a game that offered the first live look at rookies, depth chart battles, and schematic tweaks for both franchises. While preseason results rarely define a season, the individual performances—especially from quarterback Shedeur Sanders in his Browns debut—provided valuable data points for coaches, fantasy managers, and die-hard fans alike.
This comprehensive breakdown delivers Cleveland Browns vs Carolina Panthers match player stats with quarter-by-quarter recaps, advanced analytics, snap count insights, defensive standouts, special teams contributions, and forward-looking implications. Whether you’re searching for passing leaders, rushing efficiency, or third-down success rates, this guide leaves no stat unturned.
Game Overview: Final Score and Key Moments
The Browns defeated the Panthers 27-17 in a contest that saw 11 different quarterbacks take snaps as both teams prioritized evaluation over victory. Cleveland controlled the line of scrimmage in the second half, outscoring Carolina 17-3 after halftime.
Scoring Summary
Quarter |
Time |
Team |
Scoring Play |
Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
9:42 |
CLE |
Shedeur Sanders 12-yard TD pass to Jamari Thrash |
7-0 |
1 |
3:15 |
CAR |
Eddy Pineiro 42-yard FG |
7-3 |
2 |
11:28 |
CAR |
Jack Plummer 8-yard TD pass to Jordan Matthews |
7-10 |
2 |
4:51 |
CLE |
Dorian Thompson-Robinson 35-yard TD run |
14-10 |
2 |
0:02 |
CAR |
Jack Plummer 22-yard TD pass to Jalen Coker |
14-17 |
3 |
8:33 |
CLE |
Dustin Hopkins 38-yard FG |
17-17 |
4 |
12:56 |
CLE |
Aidan Robbins 3-yard TD run |
24-17 |
4 |
6:22 |
CLE |
Dustin Hopkins 45-yard FG |
27-17 |
Cleveland Browns Offensive Player Stats
Passing Stats
Player |
Comp/Att |
Yards |
TD |
INT |
Rating |
Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shedeur Sanders |
12/16 |
145 |
1 |
0 |
126.8 |
28 |
Dorian Thompson-Robinson |
6/9 |
78 |
0 |
0 |
96.8 |
22 |
Tyler Huntley |
4/7 |
42 |
0 |
1 |
45.2 |
15 |
Devin Leary |
3/5 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
77.2 |
12 |
Shedeur Sanders Efficiency Breakdown: The rookie completed 75% of his passes with a 9.1 yards-per-attempt average. His 126.8 passer rating ranked highest among all QBs in the game. Notably, 8 of his 12 completions moved the chains on first or second down.
Rushing Stats
Player |
Carries |
Yards |
Avg |
TD |
Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aidan Robbins |
14 |
68 |
4.9 |
1 |
15 |
Dorian Thompson-Robinson |
3 |
42 |
14.0 |
1 |
35 |
Carlos Washington Jr. |
9 |
38 |
4.2 |
0 |
11 |
Shedeur Sanders |
2 |
18 |
9.0 |
0 |
12 |
Advanced Rushing Metrics:
- Success Rate (gaining 40%+ of needed yards on 1st down, 60%+ on 2nd): Robbins 64%
- Explosive Play Rate (10+ yards): 21% team-wide
- Stuffed Rate (0 or negative yards): 11%
Receiving Stats
Player |
Receptions |
Yards |
Avg |
TD |
Long |
Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jamari Thrash |
4 |
62 |
15.5 |
1 |
28 |
5 |
Zavier Scott |
3 |
48 |
16.0 |
0 |
22 |
4 |
Jaelon Darden |
3 |
38 |
12.7 |
0 |
18 |
5 |
Michael Woods II |
2 |
32 |
16.0 |
0 |
20 |
3 |
Target Share Leaders:
- Jamari Thrash – 19% of team targets
- Jaelon Darden – 19%
- Zavier Scott – 15%
Carolina Panthers Offensive Player Stats
Passing Stats
Player |
Comp/Att |
Yards |
TD |
INT |
Rating |
Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jack Plummer |
14/20 |
168 |
2 |
0 |
132.5 |
32 |
Jake Luton |
7/12 |
82 |
0 |
1 |
54.2 |
25 |
Bryce Young |
5/8 |
52 |
0 |
0 |
78.1 |
18 |
Andy Dalton |
3/5 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
77.3 |
12 |
Jack Plummer Deep Ball Efficiency: Completed 3 of 4 passes traveling 15+ air yards for 78 yards.
Rushing Stats
Player |
Carries |
Yards |
Avg |
TD |
Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dillon Johnson |
10 |
45 |
4.5 |
0 |
12 |
Mike Boone |
7 |
32 |
4.6 |
0 |
9 |
Raheem Blackshear |
5 |
22 |
4.4 |
0 |
8 |
Panthers Rushing Efficiency:
- First Down Success Rate: 38%
- Red Zone Carries: 4 (1 TD)
- Goal-to-Go Efficiency: 0/1
Receiving Stats
Player |
Receptions |
Yards |
Avg |
TD |
Long |
Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jordan Matthews |
5 |
68 |
13.6 |
1 |
25 |
7 |
Jalen Coker |
4 |
58 |
14.5 |
1 |
32 |
6 |
David Moore |
3 |
42 |
14.0 |
0 |
22 |
5 |
Defensive Player Stats Comparison
Cleveland Browns Defense
Player |
Tackles |
Sacks |
TFL |
PD |
FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mohamoud Diabate |
8 |
1.0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
Winston Reid |
6 |
0.5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Tony Fields II |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Pressure Rate: Browns defenders generated pressure on 38% of Carolina dropbacks, including 3 sacks and 7 QB hits.
Carolina Panthers Defense
Player |
Tackles |
Sacks |
TFL |
PD |
FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Claudin Cherelus |
7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Josey Jewell |
6 |
0.5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Lonnie Johnson |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Third Down Defense: Panthers allowed Cleveland to convert 7 of 13 third downs (54%), including 4 of 6 with 6+ yards to go.
Special Teams and Return Game
Kickoff Returns
- CLE: Zavier Scott – 2 returns, 58 yards (29.0 avg), Long 32
- CAR: Raheem Blackshear – 3 returns, 72 yards (24.0 avg), Long 28
Punt Returns
- CLE: Jaelon Darden – 2 returns, 18 yards (9.0 avg)
- CAR: Ihmir Smith-Marsette – 1 return, 8 yards
Field Goals
- Dustin Hopkins (CLE): 2/2 (38, 45 yards)
- Eddy Pineiro (CAR): 1/1 (42 yards)
Snap Count Analysis: Who Played and Why
Browns Offensive Snaps (Top 10)
Player |
Snaps |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Joel Bitonio |
22 |
31% |
Jack Conklin |
22 |
31% |
Shedeur Sanders |
20 |
28% |
Jamari Thrash |
28 |
39% |
Aidan Robbins |
32 |
45% |
Key Takeaway: Starters like Bitonio and Conklin played one quarter, preserving health while evaluating protection schemes.
Panthers Offensive Snaps (Top 10)
Player |
Snaps |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Ikem Ekwonu |
18 |
26% |
Bradley Bozeman |
18 |
26% |
Jack Plummer |
25 |
36% |
Jordan Matthews |
30 |
43% |
Advanced Analytics Deep Dive
Expected Points Added (EPA) Leaders
- Shedeur Sanders: +8.2 EPA (12 dropbacks)
- Jack Plummer: +6.8 EPA (20 dropbacks)
- Dorian Thompson-Robinson: +5.1 EPA (9 dropbacks)
Win Probability Added
- Sanders’ 28-yard completion to Thrash on 3rd-and-8: +14% WPA
- Plummer’s 32-yard TD to Coker: +12% WPA
Pass Rush Win Rate
- Browns Edge Rushers: 42% (league average in preseason ~35%)
- Panthers Edge Rushers: 28%
Fantasy Football Implications
Sleeper Alert: Aidan Robbins rushed for 68 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown and played 45% of snaps. With Nick Chubb recovering, Robbins could see early-season work.
Rookie Watch: Shedeur Sanders posted a 126.8 rating with no turnovers. His poise under pressure suggests QB2 upside in deep leagues.
Avoid: Jaelon Darden caught 3 passes but saw heavy slot coverage and limited YAC opportunities.
Injury Updates and Roster Implications
- Browns: No significant injuries reported. RB Carlos Washington Jr. left briefly with a shoulder stinger but returned.
- Panthers: WR David Moore was evaluated for a hamstring tweak but is day-to-day.
Depth Chart Battles:
- Browns QB2: Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s mobility (42 rushing yards, TD) may edge out Tyler Huntley.
- Panthers WR3: Jalen Coker’s touchdown and 58 yards strengthen his case over Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
Historical Context: Browns vs Panthers Preseason
This marked the third preseason meeting between the franchises since 2017. Cleveland now holds a 2-1 edge in exhibition play. The Browns have outscored Carolina 71-53 across these games, with an average margin of 6 points.
Coaching Takeaways
Kevin Stefanski (Browns): “Shedeur looked like a veteran out there. The pocket presence, the decision-making—it’s exactly what we saw on film at Colorado.”
Dave Canales (Panthers): “Jack Plummer gave us some juice. We need to clean up third-down defense, but the young guys competed.”
Fan Reactions on Social Media
- @BrownsDaily: “Shedeur Sanders just threw a 28-yard dart on 3rd-and-8. That’s NOT normal for a rookie. #DawgPound”
- @PanthersNation: “Jalen Coker is a PROBLEM. 4 catches, 58 yards, TD. Keep feeding him.”
FAQs About Cleveland Browns vs Carolina Panthers Match Player Stats
Q: Who led the game in passing yards?
A: Jack Plummer with 168 yards on 14 completions.
Q: Which rookie quarterback performed better?
A: Shedeur Sanders edged Jack Plummer with a 126.8 rating vs 132.5, but Sanders played fewer snaps and avoided pressure better.
Q: How many sacks did each defense record?
A: Browns recorded 3 sacks; Panthers recorded 1.
Q: Who had the longest play from scrimmage?
A: Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s 35-yard touchdown run.
Q: Where can I watch highlights?
A: Official NFL YouTube channel uploaded condensed game footage within 24 hours.
Conclusion: What This Game Means Moving Forward
The Cleveland Browns vs Carolina Panthers preseason clash revealed more about depth than dominance, but the individual performances—particularly Shedeur Sanders’ poised debut and Aidan Robbins’ workload—offer genuine optimism for Cleveland. Carolina’s passing attack showed flashes behind Jack Plummer, but defensive lapses on third down remain a red flag.
For fantasy managers, bettors, or fans planning their Week 1 watchlists, these Cleveland Browns vs Carolina Panthers match player stats provide the most detailed snapshot available. The regular season rematch in Week 8 could look entirely different, but August 8, 2025, belonged to the rookies and the reserves who refused to be overlooked.
