Carolina Panthers vs. Cleveland Browns: 2018 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2018 NFL season on 2018-12-09, the Cleveland Browns took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 26–20 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Newton (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with -0.75 total EPA, and -3.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Landry (Cleveland Browns) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +5.13 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+20.8% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Cleveland Browns changed the game: (8:35) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left to 80-J.Landry for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Landry · Cleveland Browns · Rushing · +5.13 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.57 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Perriman · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +4.89 total EPA · 2 snaps · +2.44 EPA/play
3. 3 I. Thomas · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.56 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
4. 4 D. Moore · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +2.14 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.27 EPA/play
5. 5 C. McCaffrey · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.83 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Newton · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +1.76 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
7. 7 O. Charles · Cleveland Browns · Receiving · +0.78 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.78 EPA/play
8. 8 C. Artis-Payne · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +0.47 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.47 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Carolina Panthers — C. McCaffrey (Q1 54:21)
• Cleveland Browns — J. Landry (Q1 52:44)
• Carolina Panthers — C. McCaffrey (Q2 44:16)
• Cleveland Browns — J. Landry (B. Mayfield pass) (Q2 38:35)
• Cleveland Browns — N. Chubb (Q4 13:10)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — C. Catanzaro (Q2 34:07)
• Cleveland Browns — G. Joseph (Q2 31:03)
• Carolina Panthers — C. Catanzaro (Q3 22:15)
• Cleveland Browns — G. Joseph (Q4 8:51)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CLE 4 (Q1 54:21) — (9:21) (Shotgun) 22-C.McCaffrey left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q1 54:17) — 4-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.; Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CAR 3 (Q1 52:44) — (7:44) 80-J.Landry right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q1 52:41) — 17-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The second quarter: The quarter finished even at 10–10. Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the CLE 1 (Q2 44:16) — (14:16) 22-C.McCaffrey right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers added 1 points from the CLE 15 (Q2 44:13); Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CAR 51 (Q2 38:35) — (8:35) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left to 80-J.Landry for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 38:27) — 17-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the CLE 12 (Q2 34:07) — (4:07) (Field Goal formation) 4-C.Catanzaro 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the CAR 31 (Q2 31:03) — (1:03) (Field Goal formation) 17-G.Joseph 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 3–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the CLE 16 (Q3 22:15) — (7:15) 4-C.Catanzaro 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy..

The fourth quarter: Cleveland Browns won the period 9–0. Cleveland Browns found the end zone from the CAR 4 (Q4 13:10) — (13:10) (Shotgun) 24-N.Chubb right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cleveland Browns connected on a field goal from the CAR 23 (Q4 8:51) — (8:51) (Field Goal formation) 17-G.Joseph 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 38:35) — (8:35) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left to 80-J.Landry for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +20.8% · EPA +6.02]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 2:39) — (2:39) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass incomplete short left to 13-J.Wright. [WPA -18.9% · EPA -3.06]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 14:13) — (14:13) 80-J.Landry right guard to CAR 4 for 51 yards (59-L.Kuechly). [WPA +18.7% · EPA +4.00]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 1:04) — (1:04) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep left intended for 17-D.Funchess INTERCEPTED by 23-D.Randall at CLE 45. 23-D.Randall to CAR 48 for 7 yards. [WPA -15.2% · EPA -1.93]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 4:37) — (4:37) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton pass deep right to 13-J.Wright to CLE 9 for 24 yards (20-B.Boddy-Calhoun). [WPA +14.5% · EPA +1.51]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cleveland Browns (Q2 38:35) — (8:35) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left to 80-J.Landry for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +20.8% · EPA +6.02]
• Cleveland Browns (Q3 29:58) — (14:58) 6-B.Mayfield pass short right to 80-J.Landry to CLE 34 for -1 yards (59-L.Kuechly). FUMBLES (59-L.Kuechly), RECOVERED by CAR-58-T.Davis at CLE 32. [WPA -14.3% · EPA -5.80]
• Cleveland Browns (Q1 46:39) — (1:39) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass short left to 81-R.Higgins to CLE 16 for 4 yards (59-L.Kuechly). FUMBLES (59-L.Kuechly), RECOVERED by CAR-58-T.Davis at CLE 17. [WPA -14.1% · EPA -4.26]
• Cleveland Browns (Q4 14:13) — (14:13) 80-J.Landry right guard to CAR 4 for 51 yards (59-L.Kuechly). [WPA +18.7% · EPA +4.00]

Quarterback report card

C.Newton led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Newton (Carolina Panthers) · 49 dropbacks · 53.1% completion · -3.8% CPOE · -0.02 EPA/play · -0.75 total EPA
• B.Mayfield (Cleveland Browns) · 30 dropbacks · 60.0% completion · +13.9% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -3.50 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Carolina Panthers -0.03, Cleveland Browns +0.01) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, -2.88 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Cleveland Browns: 11 drives, +0.97 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Cleveland Browns leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• J. Landry (Cleveland Browns) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• C. Newton (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• B. Mayfield (CLE) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q1 54:21 · CLE 4 · Score 6-0
   (9:21) (Shotgun) 22-C.McCaffrey left guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q1 54:17 · CLE 15 · Score 7-0
   4-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
3. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q1 52:44 · CAR 3 · Score 7-6
   (7:44) 80-J.Landry right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q1 52:41 · CAR 15 · Score 7-7
   17-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
5. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q2 44:16 · CLE 1 · Score 13-7
   (14:16) 22-C.McCaffrey right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Carolina Panthers XP (+1) — Q2 44:13 · CLE 15 · Score 14-7
   4-C.Catanzaro extra point is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy. PENALTY on CLE-90-E.Ogbah, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced between downs.
7. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q2 38:35 · CAR 51 · Score 14-13
   (8:35) (Shotgun) 6-B.Mayfield pass deep left to 80-J.Landry for 51 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Cleveland Browns XP (+1) — Q2 38:27 · CAR 15 · Score 14-14
   17-G.Joseph extra point is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
9. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 34:07 · CLE 12 · Score 17-14
   (4:07) (Field Goal formation) 4-C.Catanzaro 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
10. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q2 31:03 · CAR 31 · Score 17-17
    (1:03) (Field Goal formation) 17-G.Joseph 49 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.
11. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 22:15 · CLE 16 · Score 20-17
    (7:15) 4-C.Catanzaro 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
12. Cleveland Browns TD (+6) — Q4 13:10 · CAR 4 · Score 20-23
    (13:10) (Shotgun) 24-N.Chubb right guard for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Cleveland Browns FG (+3) — Q4 8:51 · CAR 23 · Score 20-26
    (8:51) (Field Goal formation) 17-G.Joseph 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-47-C.Hughlett, Holder-4-B.Colquitt.