The Cleveland Browns made a switch at quarterback to Johnny Manziel in the fourth quarter of their 26-10 loss to Buffalo. Manziel came in after starter Brian Hoyer struggled through the first three quarters. Manziel responded on his first drive by leading the Cleveland Browns on an 80-yard touchdown drive. Despite the impressive start the magic of Manziel was for naught. He finished the game 5 of 8 passing for 63 yards.
Cleveland’s offense was stagnant with Hoyer at quarterback. They started the second half with three straight three-and-out series. On their fourth drive Hoyer threw his second interception of the game. That set the Bills up at Cleveland’s 21-yard line. After a field goal put the deficit at 20-3, head coach Mike Pettine made the switch at quarterback. Hoyer finished the day 18 of 30 for 192 yards and two interceptions.
Manziel came on the field for his first play since Week 3 against Baltimore. On the first play of the drive Manziel scrambled for three yards. Then he faced pressure and delivered a dump off to receiver Miles Austin for a 12-yard gain and the first down. Two plays later he connected with receiver Josh Gordon over the middle for a pickup of 18 yards. Two plays after that he completed a pass to tight end Jim Dray for 24 yards. Eventually Manziel called his own number, scrambling in the end zone for the 10-yard touchdown. Immediately the Cleveland Browns were benefiting from making the switch at quarterback.
Manziel flashed his patented money sign as he reached the end zone. Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns it was not enough to spark a complete rally. Buffalo’s offense responded by going 65 yards on 10 plays to add a field goal upping the deficit to 23-10. Most importantly the Bills ate a little more than five minutes off the game clock. Manziel got the ball back inside his own 20 with less than three minutes remaining. But he was unable to repeat the success of his first drive.
On third down he was drilled by Buffalo’s Kyle Williams. The ball popped out and was recovered by the Bills in the end zone. Initially officials ruled it a fumble and touchdown, but after an official review an incomplete pass was ruled. On 4th down Manziel’s completion to Miles Austin was one yard short of the first down marker, giving possession back to Buffalo.
Following the game Pettine said he will reevaluate the quarterback position before making a decision on who will start next week. Pettine cannot ignore how dreadful Hoyer has been in recent weeks. In the last four games Hoyer has thrown six interceptions and only one touchdown. His struggles made it easy for Pettine to accept the quarterback switch on Sunday. Still, Hoyer said he was “shocked” by the benching. He also added he thought the Cleveland Browns were still his team. Hoyer said all the right things, but he will have to admit that his grasp on the quarterback position is slipping away.
Hoyer fought off Manziel’s reign long enough. He had to continue to be effective to hold on to the starting position. That is something he has failed to do in recent weeks. Despite the loss, the Browns are still in the thick of the race for the AFC North division title with a 7-5 record. The team’s offense needs something different. For the Cleveland Browns making a switch at quarterback may be all that is needed.
Commentary by King Motley
Sources:
ESPN
Rant Sports
Bleacher Report
Photo by Erik Drost – Flickr License
Discover more from Guardian Liberty Voice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Cleveland Browns Make Switch at Quarterback
The Cleveland Browns made a switch at quarterback to Johnny Manziel in the fourth quarter of their 26-10 loss to Buffalo. Manziel came in after starter Brian Hoyer struggled through the first three quarters. Manziel responded on his first drive by leading the Cleveland Browns on an 80-yard touchdown drive. Despite the impressive start the magic of Manziel was for naught. He finished the game 5 of 8 passing for 63 yards.
Cleveland’s offense was stagnant with Hoyer at quarterback. They started the second half with three straight three-and-out series. On their fourth drive Hoyer threw his second interception of the game. That set the Bills up at Cleveland’s 21-yard line. After a field goal put the deficit at 20-3, head coach Mike Pettine made the switch at quarterback. Hoyer finished the day 18 of 30 for 192 yards and two interceptions.
Manziel came on the field for his first play since Week 3 against Baltimore. On the first play of the drive Manziel scrambled for three yards. Then he faced pressure and delivered a dump off to receiver Miles Austin for a 12-yard gain and the first down. Two plays later he connected with receiver Josh Gordon over the middle for a pickup of 18 yards. Two plays after that he completed a pass to tight end Jim Dray for 24 yards. Eventually Manziel called his own number, scrambling in the end zone for the 10-yard touchdown. Immediately the Cleveland Browns were benefiting from making the switch at quarterback.
Manziel flashed his patented money sign as he reached the end zone. Unfortunately for the Cleveland Browns it was not enough to spark a complete rally. Buffalo’s offense responded by going 65 yards on 10 plays to add a field goal upping the deficit to 23-10. Most importantly the Bills ate a little more than five minutes off the game clock. Manziel got the ball back inside his own 20 with less than three minutes remaining. But he was unable to repeat the success of his first drive.
On third down he was drilled by Buffalo’s Kyle Williams. The ball popped out and was recovered by the Bills in the end zone. Initially officials ruled it a fumble and touchdown, but after an official review an incomplete pass was ruled. On 4th down Manziel’s completion to Miles Austin was one yard short of the first down marker, giving possession back to Buffalo.
Following the game Pettine said he will reevaluate the quarterback position before making a decision on who will start next week. Pettine cannot ignore how dreadful Hoyer has been in recent weeks. In the last four games Hoyer has thrown six interceptions and only one touchdown. His struggles made it easy for Pettine to accept the quarterback switch on Sunday. Still, Hoyer said he was “shocked” by the benching. He also added he thought the Cleveland Browns were still his team. Hoyer said all the right things, but he will have to admit that his grasp on the quarterback position is slipping away.
Hoyer fought off Manziel’s reign long enough. He had to continue to be effective to hold on to the starting position. That is something he has failed to do in recent weeks. Despite the loss, the Browns are still in the thick of the race for the AFC North division title with a 7-5 record. The team’s offense needs something different. For the Cleveland Browns making a switch at quarterback may be all that is needed.
Commentary by King Motley
Sources:
ESPN
Rant Sports
Bleacher Report
Photo by Erik Drost – Flickr License
Share:
Discover more from Guardian Liberty Voice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Send Us A Message