Cleveland Browns QB Situation

One of the most popular topics, if not the most popular around the NFL, is the Cleveland Browns quarterback situation. Browns Head Coach Mike Pettine is faced with a difficult decision as he has to choose between QB Brian Hoyer or rookie QB Johnny Manziel to start next Sunday's Week 14 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Brian Hoyer has started every game for the Browns this season and led the team to a 7-5 record. More importantly, he has kept the Browns in contention to fight for their first playoff spot since 2002 where they reached the AFC Wild Card Playoffs. On Sunday the Browns suffered a 26-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills and in the loss, Hoyer completed 18 of 30 passes for 192 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. Pettine replaced Hoyer with Manziel in the fourth quarter as he felt that "the entire offense could not move the ball,". Manziel answered the call with an impressive eight-play, eighty-yard drive that ended in a Manziel ten-yard rushing touchdown where he displayed his elusiveness and agility to avoid tacklers. Manziel finished the rest of the game and he completed 5 of 8 passes for 63 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions, while rushing twice for 13 yards and a touchdown. Mike Pettine stated that he will announce his starting quarterback on Wednesday and that announcement will be anticipated by many. Hoyer spoke out after the loss saying that he deserves the starting job still and he stated that "you don't go 7-5 in the NFL by getting lucky,". However, Hoyer's play over the past two games (41-70, 514 yards, zero touchdowns, five interceptions) and his ineffectiveness to score open a door for Manziel to take the starting job. In my opinion, I feel that Johnny Manziel should receive his first NFL start next Sunday against Indianapolis because he played pretty well in limited time against the Bills and he was able to move the ball better and more efficiently than Hoyer. In addition, Manziel can run the ball very well, so the Browns may opt to use special packages such as the read option to fool the defense and open up large holes for RB Isaiah Crowell. Even if Manziel does not start, it would not be surprising to see him run certain packages in the game that are designed specifically for him. No matter the choice that is made by Pettine, they have to face a tough Indianapolis team that s one of the highest scoring offenses in the league.