Here’s Johnny
On the verge of a lopsided loss to Buffalo, Browns coach Mike Pettine finally made the most anticipated decision in the NFL this season. Trailing 17-3 in the fourth quarter, Pettine inserted first-round pick Johnny Manziel in for an ineffective Brian Hoyer, and alas, Johnny Football made his mark.
Manziel completed 5-of-8 passes for 63 yards, and in his initial drive of the game led an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run. On his second drive, the Bills defense pulled the curtain over the magic show, forcing the rookie to fumble, which upon further review was ruled an incompletion, before a turnover on downs ended Manziel’s comeback attempt.
After the game, Pettine did not name a starter for the Browns’ Week 14 game against Indianapolis. With the loss, Cleveland dropped to 7-5 and in a three-way tie with Baltimore and Pittsburgh in second place behind Cincinnati.
