National Football League

Was this last-second loss to Colts Hoyer's last stand?

Published Dec. 7, 2014 6:51 p.m. ET

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CLEVELAND -- Mike Pettine hesitated last week about moving forward with Brian Hoyer as the quarterback. Quite of bit of time was spent discussing the quarterback situation last week on local talk shows, as well in the national shows.

Hoyer was re-confirmed as the starter this past Wednesday, but his shaky play will cause the discussion to likely heat back up, not only on the sports talk shows, but more importantly, in the Browns offices in Berea.

Hoyer had the chance to shut down any dialogue of a possible change at quarterback, but he did not.

"It was frustrating," Pettine said after the game. "There were just too many wasted opportunities – miss a field goal, missed points when we were in the red zone. You can't do that against a good team, especially in an atmosphere we felt like was a playoff game."

Hoyer was a very pedestrian 14-of-31 for 140 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He had a costly interception in the end zone on second down from the nine-yard line by former Browns safety Mike Adams that cost the Browns at least three points.

"I'm just disappointed that we lost and moving on to Cincinnati," Hoyer said. "That's all we can do. There are three games left and we have to make the most of them. We can't let them slip through our hands when we're playing good teams and we have them beat.

"We'll watch the film and realize that we have to play better," he said. "I have to play better. With each game that goes by, there are less and less opportunities to figure out how this season is going to go."

Hoyer had no explanation for his play.

"There were some throws I felt really good about; there were some other ones that were not so good," he said. "It was kind of inconsistent. That's something I've got to be able to fix – be more consistent. It's something I'll definitely have to watch on the film."

Pettine was asked to assess Hoyer's play.

"He did not play well enough for us to win," he said. "We're in a bottom line business. The entire team did not play well enough for us to win."

The offense did very little early in the game, particularly Hoyer, picking up just one first down passing on the first five drives. The Browns punted four times and had the interception in the end zone.

They didn't do much in the second half either, picking up just three first downs. Pettine was asked how much of the blame should be on the quarterback.

"Have to watch the film," he said. "I'm sure it was more than just the quarterback. There are 10 other guys out there."

The offense had a drive that moved 43 yards earlier in the second quarter to the Colts' 22 but stalled and Billy Cundiff was wide right on a 40-yard field goal attempt.

Hoyer and the offense looked like they were starting to put it together with 5:57 to play in the first half as the offense had their best drive of the game marching 77 yards in nine plays to take a 14-7 lead with 1:19 to play. Hoyer hit Travis Benjamin for 27 yards, Andrew Hawkins for 12 and Taylor Gabriel for 12 yards on the drive. Hoyer was 4-of-5 for 54 yards before Isaiah Crowell finished the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run.

However, that wasn't the case.

Hoyer said he plans on continuing to be the starting quarterback, until told otherwise.

"I expect to start and play Cincinnati at home and I'll prepare that way," he said. "Nothing has been said."

After the game, Pettine denied that he contemplated making a change to Johnny Manziel at any time during the game, but the way the offense was playing just prior to the final drive of the half might have had a different outcome.

Pettine was asked if he considered making a change during the game.

"No, I did not," he said.  "I did not consider a change during the game."

Asked if he's considering a change at quarterback for next week.

"I haven't even thought about it so it's something we'll get together and discuss at some point," Pettine said. "It's too fresh after this one to think forward."

Pettine shut down talk about the quarterback when asked if Hoyer's play will make it an easier decision to switch to Manziel.

"I'm not going to speak on a quarterback decision at this point."

Early in the third quarter, the Browns squandered a big opportunity when Joe Haden stripped T.Y. Hilton of the ball and Paul Kruger recovered on the Colts' 38. However, the Browns were only able to move to the 36 and rather than attempt a field goal had to punt the ball back to Indianapolis.

Even after Jim Leonhard intercepted a pass and returned it to the Colts' 23, all the Browns could get out of that was a 39-yard field goal by Cundiff.

Clinging to a 24-19 lead with 6:43 to play, the Browns could only pick up one first down and turned the ball back to Luck with 3:46 to play, which set up the game-winning drive. The Browns had a chance to run more time off the clock with a first down completion to Josh Gordon. However, the catch was overturned after a challenge by the Colts' Chuck Pagano and the Browns punted it back to the Colts.

The Browns have to make a decision on Hoyer as his contract expires after this season and ESPN reported on Sunday that Hoyer isn't expected to return to the Browns if the team doesn't make the playoffs.

Hoyer has led the Browns to a 7-6 record but has thrown just one touchdown and eight interceptions in the last four games.  However, the Browns need to know if Manziel is the answer to their quarterback situation moving forward.

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