National Football League

Johnny Manziel makes noise late for Browns

Published Nov. 30, 2014 4:23 p.m. ET

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ORCHARD PARK, NY -- After Brian Hoyer threw his second interception of Sunday's game to Bills safety Da'Norris Searcy, Mike Pettine decided that it was time to see what Johnny Manziel could do with the Browns trailing 20-3 to the Bills.

Pettine went up to Manziel and told him to get loose, which Manziel admitted caught him off guard a little bit. After talking to quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains on the sideline phone though, Manziel knew that he was going in.

"My job all year has been make sure I'm ready when my name is called. That's what I've been preparing all year for and I tried to go out there today and do that. It wasn't perfect, by any means," Manziel said after the Browns lost to the Bills 26-10.

For the first time since Week 3 against Baltimore, Manziel took the field during the fourth quarter at Ralph Wilson Stadium but got his first real chance to lead the Browns offense. While the three drives were a small sample size, the first series was Johnny B. Good while the second one was more like Johnny Rookie.

In his 13 snaps, Manziel was 5 of 8 for 63 yards and had two runs for 13 yards, including a touchdown. Prior to Sunday, he had been in for five snaps in two games.

"It felt very good to get back out there," Manziel said after the Browns lost 26-10. "I was very thankful for the teammates I had on offense to really allow me to overcome a few hurdles getting in there for the first time, calling the play right, making sure everybody's lined up. It's a lot different in the game than it is getting a couple snaps here and there and practice."

After driving into the red zone on two of the first four possessions, the Browns were stuck in neutral on the next seven. Three ended in turnovers and the other four were three-and-outs. In those seven drives, the Browns had only eight net yards and one first down.

Manziel came in with 12:01 and led the Browns on an 8-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a 10-yard touchdown run where he gave his patented money sign after scoring.

On the drive, Manziel was 3 of 4 for 54 yards and had two runs for 13 yards.

"I was probably thinking about calling the play right more than I was anything else. but as the drive kept going, I didn't really think about much, feel that much, I just went out and played football," said Manziel of the first drive. "That's what I think helped me deliver the ball to those guys, distribute the ball to those guys and make that drive work. So once I got out there and the nerves settled down and got into a little bit of a rhythm, seeing a pass completed, that's better than the 0-for-1 that I was sitting on all season before. So it felt good and after that it was block everything else out and listen to Kyle (offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan), listen to what he's got to tell me and go play football."

With Cleveland down 20-3, Manziel came in with the ball on the Browns 20. The first play was a bootleg on play action that resulted in a 3-yard gain. The next play was the same design but was his first NFL completion when he connected for a 12-yard completion to Miles Austin.

After an 11-yard run by Isaiah Crowell, Manziel completed an 18-yard pass to Josh Gordon to get it into Buffalo territory. Two plays later was a 24-yard completion to Jim Dray. After a 2-yard carry by Terrence West came Manziel's touchdown.

Said Manziel about the touchdown run: "The first play, they got a good rush up the field, it really left a big hole as I was keeping my eyes downfield it kind of popped open. I saw the 'backer grab onto somebody and it was a huge hole and I felt like I could take it and luckily got in."

On his second drive, Manziel looked like he was about to have his first NFL turnover. After recovering an errant shotgun snap, he scrambled left but fumbled near the end zone when he was knocked off balance by Kyle Williams. Nickell Robey recovered it in the end zone for what appeared to be a Buffalo touchdown but replay later revered the call when they said Manziel's arm was moving forward.

Manziel attributed the error to miscommunication with the offensive line and not being ready for the snap.

"I was trying to throw it away and my elbow, somehow it got jarred loose as it was going backwards," he said. "Never thought that it was an incomplete pass, but luckily for us I guess the replay showed that."

The third drive, which ended the game, was one play, a handoff to Terrance West for 18 yards.

The early reviews of Manziel's performance were generally good, considering his time on the bench and coming in to direct a touchdown pass. Pettine though said he would give it more evaluation and see what kind of coverage Buffalo was playing.

"I don't want to put too much stock in it. I want to see the tape first and see what reads he had to go through and the plays that he made," Pettine said. "We're in the bottom-line business. His task was to move us down the field. He did and he did a good job. He made some throws and certainly made some plays with his feet, climaxed by the touchdown."

Over the past three months, Manziel has made more news for the off-field incidents than how his development as an NFL quarterback has gone. With more practices and carryover of game plans, Manziel has gotten more comfortable with the system.

Offensive tackle Joe Thomas said people were excited to see what Manziel was going to do in the game.

Added Thomas: "I've seen things from him since he got here because he's just a professional. He approaches every day like a work day and that's the way you have to do it so when he got in there we knew he'd be prepared."

Hoyer has thrown five interceptions over the past two games, including two against the Bills. Hoyer, who was 18 of 30 for 192 yards, said he was shocked by decision and added that "you don't want to see someone else doing your job. It is coaches decision. This is my team and I have always felt that way. We'll see what happens."

Pettine said that the staff would evaluate the film with a decision on who would start next Sunday against the Colts being made by Wednesday. Pettine might have more to offer when he addresses the media on Monday.

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