It really doesn’t matter whether the Carolina Panthers play Cam Newton or Derek Anderson at quarterback against Cleveland on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

This will come down to defense. The Panthers will stop the run -- the last six teams have averaged 93.8 yards a game -- as they have so effectively the past month and a half and force Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel to beat them with his arm.

With Josh Norman playing as well as any cornerback in the NFL now -- he’s held Atlanta’s Julio Jones, Philadelphia’s Jeremy Maclin and Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans to a combined 11 catches for 110 yards -- he’ll shut down wide receiver Josh Gordon and take away one of Manziel’s best weapons.

Unless Manziel runs for more than 100 yards it’ll be tough for the Browns to score, much less win.

Manziel had a quarterback rating of 1 in his debut, tying him for the worst in a player’s first start in the last five years. The last two close to that number were Brandon Weeden (1.0) and Ryan Tannehill in 2012, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Both rebounded nicely, Weeden with a 58.4 the following game and Tannehill an 83.3.

But the Panthers have too much to play for with the NFC South title still within their grasp if they win their final two games and New Orleans loses one to let Manziel beat them. That they’re playing their best defense of the season also speaks volumes.

And in case you missed it, Newton is on target to start 12 days after breaking two small bones in his lower back in a vehicle accident.

My prediction: Panthers 24, Browns 9