In a game not exactly filled with offensive highlights,Johnny Manziel rushed for the only Cleveland touchdown off the bench in the fourth quarter.
The now 7-5 Browns will be home for the next two weeks against division leaders Indianapolis and then Cincinnati.
Brownie Bits
1) Brian Hoyer was deservedly benched for Johnny Manziel.
Hoyer threw two interceptions,but it could have been even more had Bill defenders held onto the ball.
The move was a long time in coming and Manziel certainly added a little bit of excitement to a team that badly needed it..
2) That said,I'm not sure that starting Manziel is the answer next week against the Colts.
Once you make the move to start Johnny Manziel,he is the guy.
You cannot flip back and forth with a young quarterback and if that is the plan,I'd rather see Hoyer next week.
You want to give Brian Hoyer one last chance? Fine,as long as when Johnny Manziel goes in-he stays in.
3) Terrence West is disappointing.
West rushed for more yards yesterday than Isaiah Crowell,but 18 of his 32 yards came on the last play of the game when the Bills just played out the string.,
West's fumble that Jerry Hughes scored a touchdown on swung the game to Buffalo and even though Mike Pettine claimed the fumble was "inexcusable" West still would play later in the game.
4) Josh Gordon caught seven balls for 75 yards,but there was still some miscommunications with the quarterbacks (especially Brian Hoyer) and the team still seems reluctant to send him deep.
I'd think that the deep ball would open things up a bit,but perhaps the coaching staff's mistrust of Brian Hoyer throwing deep comes into play there.
5) Buffalo's Aaron Williams head first spear of Gary Barnidge in the first quarter sent Barnidge to the bench with a rib injury and surprisingly no penalty called.
Count on the league hitting Williams with a fine after the game is reviewed.
6) Johnny Manziel may not be the answer to the Browns problems,but one thing is certain-the rap on his arm strength is unfair.
Manziel was throwing darts and the throws he made on the scoring drive were the type that Brian Hoyer doesn't make.
Manziel might not make it big,but it won't be because of his arm...
7) Manziel's other drive ended with the "same old Browns" roll of the eyes as on 4th and 6,Miles Austin ran a five yard route and was tackled shy of the first down.
Does anyone have stats on how many times that has happened in the last 15 years?
Answer-No and too many to count.
8) The one bright spot on the day was Joe Haden,
Haden had an interception,a block of a Buffalo field goal try,some batted down passes and held talented Sammy Watkins to three catches and just 13 yards on the day.
Haden is in the zone right now and looks to have plenty of challenges ahead of him with T.Y.Hilton and A.J. Green to cover in the next two games.
9) Wish I could say the same for the Browns anchor on offense as Joe Thomas struggled with Mario Williams as he was beaten several times and called for holding three times (some declined by Buffalo).
Could be just a bad matchup,but Williams certainly had his way with Thomas...
10) The defense did not play badly and held Buffalo to just one touchdown.
Yes,Buffalo added three field goals and Jim Leonhard made a great interception in the end zone to foil another threat,but all and all,this was a very solid defensive effort-I was pleased with them...
11) I winced when the Bills thrust the dagger into the heart of the Browns on a third down that Cleveland had to have a stop on with a catch and run for 40 plus yards to tight end and former Browns Marquis Gray.
Gray can do so many things that I was in favor of keeping him around,but he was an early cut by the Browns in camp.
12) This was a huge loss.I figure 10-6 will get you into the playoffs,9-7 could go either way.
A win over the Bills would have allowed the Browns to go 2-2 to get to 10-6.
Now they have to go 3-1.
My guess? It's unlikely....
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