CLEVELAND — One week after looking like an entirely different football team in Tampa Bay, the Browns finally get to come home.

Cleveland hosts Carolina Sunday afternoon at Huntington Bank Field looking to build on a come from behind 23-19 victory over the Buccaneers. The Panthers also enter at 1-1, but the record does not quite capture how explosive they have been offensively.

Carolina leads the NFL with 312.5 passing yards per game and has already scored 71 points through two weeks. Bryce Young has thrown for 648 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception while pushing the football downfield with regularity.

That presents a significant challenge for a Cleveland defense that bounced back nicely against Tampa Bay. The Browns have gone 47 consecutive games without allowing a 300-yard passer, the longest active streak in the NFL, but that run will be tested by Young and an offense that has consistently generated explosive plays.

Cleveland should have an obvious opportunity on the other side of the ball. Carolina has allowed 224 rushing yards per game, the worst mark in the league, while the Browns enter Sunday averaging only 65.5. If ever there were a week to get Quinshon Judkins and the running game moving, this would seem to be it.

Players to Watch

• Deshaun Watson — Carolina comes to Cleveland leading the NFL with six takeaways and tied for the league lead with a plus-three turnover differential. Five of those takeaways came last week against Atlanta, and the Panthers have consistently attacked the football rather than simply waiting for mistakes. Watson played better during the second half against Tampa Bay, but Cleveland cannot afford to give Carolina short fields. Protecting the football may be his most important responsibility Sunday. If Watson avoids the critical turnover and keeps the offense on schedule, the Browns have a legitimate opportunity to win their home opener.

• Quinshon Judkins — I know I've had Quinshon as a player to watch for the first two weeks but, seriously, look at the matchup. Carolina is dead last in the NFL against the run, allowing an astonishing 224 yards per game. Meanwhile, Cleveland has managed only 131 rushing yards through two games, with Judkins carrying 24 times for 54 yards. Something has to give. Establishing Judkins would keep Young and Carolina's explosive offense standing on the sideline, take pressure off Watson and allow Cleveland to control the pace of the game. A consistent running attack could be the difference between another nail-biter and a long afternoon.

• Cleveland Defensive Backs — Carolina's passing attack has been one of the biggest surprises of the young season. Young has already connected on 10 passes of at least 20 yards while throwing three touchdowns in each of Carolina's first two games. Jalen Coker leads the Panthers with 204 receiving yards. Cleveland cannot allow Coker and Carolina's other receivers to consistently get behind the secondary. The Browns have avoided surrendering a 300-yard passer for nearly three full seasons, but maintaining that streak will require disciplined coverage and limiting the explosive plays that have fueled Carolina's offense.

Game Information

Notes

• Cleveland is playing its home opener after beginning the season with road games against Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.

• Carolina leads the NFL with six takeaways and is tied for first with a plus-three turnover differential.

• The Panthers are allowing an NFL-worst 224 rushing yards per game, while Cleveland enters Sunday averaging 65.5.

• Carolina leads the league with 312.5 passing yards per game. Young has thrown for 648 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.

• Cleveland has gone 47 consecutive games without allowing a 300-yard passer, the longest active streak in the NFL.

• Guard Teven Jenkins is out with a back injury. Cornerback Tyson Campbell and safety Grant Delpit are questionable.

Prediction

Carolina's passing attack is legitimate, and Cleveland's secondary is going to be tested more than it was a week ago. Young has been aggressive without being reckless, and allowing him to repeatedly generate chunk plays would quickly turn this into the kind of game the Browns do not want to play.

The path to a Cleveland victory is almost the opposite.

The Browns need Judkins and the running game to finally find some traction against the league's worst rushing defense, shorten the game and keep Carolina's offense watching from the sideline. Watson does not need to throw for 350 yards. He needs to protect the football, move the chains and let Cleveland's defense do what it did last week.

That defense builds on its performance in Tampa Bay, the running game finally finds more equal footing, and Cleveland does enough on both sides to keep the game close into the fourth quarter. A late field goal sends the home crowd home happy.

Final Score: Cleveland 23, Carolina 20