Matchup Notes
Carolina is 4-2 against Cleveland all-time.
Christian McCaffrey breaks free for a run against Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (11) runs the ball as he is tackled by Carolina Panthers cornerback Richard Marshall (31) in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Cleveland. Jon Beason (52) is on the right. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) prepares to throw during the second quarter of the Panthers' 20-12 win over the Cleveland Browns in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. Delhomme passed for 170 yards and one touchdown.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Luke Kuechly makes a tackle against Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis (40) jumps high after a 10 yard run in an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jimmy Clausen (2) drops back to pass against the Cleveland Browns during first-quarter action in an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Julius Peppers signals for a turnover against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Kawann Short trees to chase down Baker Mayfield against Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Carolina Panthers running back Mike Goodson runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns in an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Carolina Panthers safety Sherrod Martin (23) tackles Cleveland Browns tight end Evan Moore (89) in the end zone, forcing him to drop the ball on a pass play, in the first quarter action in their NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Cleveland. Martin was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the play. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Christian McCaffrey celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Carolina Panthers play against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, December 21, 2014 in Charlotte, NC.
Christian McCaffrey stiff-arms a defender against Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) tries to break the tackle of Cleveland Browns' Daven Holly (39) during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. Holly pushed Smith out of bounds. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY OCT 15Carolina Panthers' Julius Peppers (90) chases Cleveland Browns quarterback Charlie Frye (9) in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. Peppers will bring his defensive teammates to Baltimore for Sunday, Oct. 15's game between the Ravens and the Panthers. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Donte Jackson celebrates a defensive stop against Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Carolina Panthers' DeShaun Foster (26) is tackled by Cleveland Browns' D'Qwell Jackson (58) during the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 20-9 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. Foster ran for 106 yards in the game. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Cam Newton celebrates a play against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) catches a pas between Cleveland Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown (24) and cornerback Mike Adams (20) during second quarter action in their NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) scrambles away from Carolina Panthersdefensive end Charles Johnson (95) during first quarter action in their NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
DJ Moore breaks a tackle against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Carolina Panthers' Keyshawn Johnson (19) jumps high to make a catch as Cleveland Browns' Brodney Pool (21) defends during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers' Richard Marshall (31) celebrates with teammate Chris Gamble (20) as he returns an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter, while Cleveland Browns' Dennis Northcutt (86) trails during an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Christian McCaffrey carries the football against Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Cam Newton tries to break a tackle against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
Thomas Davis sacks Baker Mayfield during a game against Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, December 9, 2018.
- Carolina looks to snap a four-game skid with a trip to Cleveland. The Panthers are 4-1 all-time against the Browns, however Cleveland won the last matchup in Ohio in 2010, 24-23.
- Christian McCaffrey tallied 106 rushing yards and 55 receiving yards last week at Tampa Bay, becoming the first player in NFL history with five straight games of at least 50 rushing and 50 receiving yards.
- DJ Moore now leads all rookie NFL wide receivers with 759 scrimmage yards (609 receiving, 150 rushing). He has set the franchise record for rushing yards by a wide receiver and can catch Kelvin Benjamin's franchise mark of 1,008 scrimmage yards for a rookie wide receiver.
- Luke Kuechly's five tackles (press box stats) at Tampa Bay gave him 918 for his career, the most by any NFL player through their first seven seasons. Kuechly has now posted 100 tackles (press box) in each of his seven seasons.
- Cam Newton has thrown at least two touchdown passes in 11 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak in the NFL behind Philip Rivers (13). Newton's streak ties for 10th-longest in NFL history.
- Carolina ranks second in the NFL in rushing with 140.8 rushing yards per game. If the season ended today, that would rank fourth all-time in the franchise. The Panthers lead the NFL in rushing yards per carry (5.52) and rushes over 10 yards (59). Carolina's rushing average would set a franchise record if the season ended today. The previous high was 5.41 in 2011. The franchise record for rushes over 10 yards is 76, set in 2009. The Panthers need 17 long rushes to tie that mark.
Upcoming Milestones
Panthers players have a number of career milestones that could be in reach for Sunday's game:
- Christian McCaffrey (1,526) needs 111 scrimmage yards to break DeAngelo Williams' franchise record (1,636) for scrimmage yards in a season, set in 2008.
- McCaffrey needs 137 rushing yards to become the sixth Panther in history with a 1,000-yard rushing season. He needs 137 rushing yards and 337 receiving yards to become the third player in NFL history (Marshall Faulk, Roger Craig) with 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.
- Cam Newton (240) needs seven total touchdowns to pass Dan Marino (246) for second all-time through the first eight seasons of a career. He recently passed Brett Favre for sole possession of third place.
- Newton needs one passing yard for his eighth-straight season of 3,000 passing yards. He would join Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks with eight straight seasons to start a career. Additionally, Newton (450) needs 50 rushing yards for his seventh season of 500 rushing and 3,000 passing yards, the most in NFL history.
- DJ Moore (11) needs four rush attempts to pass Ted Ginn (14) for the most rushes by a wide receiver in a single season. Moore (759) needs 250 scrimmage yards to break Kelvin Benjamin's franchise record (1,008) for most scrimmage yards by a rookie wide receiver.
- Curtis Samuel (2) needs two rushing touchdowns to tie Tavon Austin (4, 2015) for the most rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver in the modern era.
- Devin Funchess (2,178) needs 208 receiving yards to pass Brandon LaFell (2,385) for seventh place all-time in franchise history.
- Julius Peppers (158.5) needs two sacks to pass Kevin Greene (160.0) for the third-most sacks in NFL history since it became a statistic in 1982.
- Luke Kuechly (16) needs four tackles for loss to pass Charles Johnson (19) for the most in a season in the franchise.
Notable Connections
- Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam and Panthers owner David Tepper were both minority owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to purchasing their respective franchises.
- Panthers offensive coordinator Norv Turner and quarterbacks coach Scott Turner coached on the Browns staff in 2013.
- Browns senior offensive assistant Al Saunders was the assistant head coach for California while Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and secondary coach Richard Rodgers were on the team from 1980-1981. Saunders also worked with Panthers run game coordinator, John Matsko on the St. Louis Rams coaching staff from 1999-2000 and again on the Ravens staff from 2009-2010.
- Panthers cornerback James Bradberry played at Samford while Browns assistant special teams coach Sam Shade worked as the defensive backs coach/defensive pass game coordinator.
- Browns defensive line coach Clyde Simmons played collegiately at Western Carolina and is a native of Wilmington, N.C.
- Browns wide receivers coach Adam Henry was a member of the LSU coaching staff while Panthers Eric Reid and Trai Turner were on the team.
- Panthers safety Mike Adams played for the Browns from 2007-11.
- Panthers linebacker Ben Jacobs played for the Browns in 2011 and was a member of their practice squad in 2012.
- Panthers punter Michael Palardy was signed as free agent by the Browns in 2016 and spent time on their practice squad.
- Browns defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi is a native of Greensboro, N.C., and played collegiately at UNC Charlotte.
- Browns defensive linemen Chris Smith is a native of Mount Ulla, N.C.
- Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel played collegiately at Ohio State.
- Browns defensive back Juston Burris played collegiately at N.C. State.
