Johnny Manziel one of few Cleveland Browns bright spots in loss at Cincinnati Bengals: DMan's QB Report, Week 9

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback Johnny Manziel went 15-of-33 for 168 yards and one touchdown in the Cleveland Browns' 31-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. Manziel did not throw an interception and was sacked three times.

Here is a capsule look at Manziel's performance after a DVR review of the CBS telecast:

Prologue: On Thursday night, Nov. 6, 2014, the Browns dominated the Bengals, 24-3, in Cincinnati.

In a full schedule's worth of games since, the Browns are 3-13. They closed 2014 by losing six of seven and are 2-7 this season.

Prime Time's concern: As Manziel prepared to make his second start this season and fourth career, CBS and NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said:

"I was a big Johnny Manziel fan when he came out of Texas A & M. I never got a chance to see him play in college, but tonight I get to see Johnny play. You know why I'm excited? Because Johnny is 1-0 as a starter this season.

"He started Week 2 and hasn't started since. You're 2-6, and now you want to throw Johnny out there? You want to throw Johnny out there against the 7-0 Cincinnati Bengals. Sounds like a recipe for failure. I don't know if you want the kid to succeed or you want the kid to fail. And guess what? To give a young quarterback a chance to win, you've got to give him a running game. But this team happens to be 31st in rushing.''

The Browns were not "throwing Johnny out there.'' Because starting quarterback Josh McCown was injured, Manziel started. Manziel was the next QB up.

But Sanders' overarching point registered: Manziel faced the unenviable task of trying to lead his sagging team to victory over a formidable opponent in its house, and to do so with a highly suspect supporting cast.

As it turned out, Sanders could have relaxed because Manziel did not fail. Manziel was far from perfect, but he also was far from the reason the Browns were dominated.

This much is certain: Manziel played light years better than on Dec. 14, 2014, when he faced the Bengals in his first career start. Manziel, admittedly unprepared, went 10-of-18 for 80 yards in a 30-0 defeat at FirstEnergy Stadium. He was intercepted twice and sacked three times.

Superb work: On Thursday night, Manziel went 11-of-18 for 128 yards and one touchdown in the first half. The Browns trailed, 14-10.

And the numbers could have been even better if not for several passes dropped or off body parts.

Manziel's offense delivered a 14-play, 71-yard drive that resulted in a field goal and a 10-play, 92-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown.

Manziel frustrated the Bengals' strong front by slipping out of the pocket to make an assortment of good plays/throws on the run.

The Browns, though they trailed by four, seemingly had cause to be cautiously optimistic.

Curious choice of words: As the Browns exited the field for the locker room at halftime, CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson asked Browns coach Mike Pettine: "What can you say about what you've seen from Johnny Manziel and this offense?''

Pettine said: "Well, he's making some plays out of the pocket. There are a couple of (throws) that we want him to make from in the pocket, but you can't argue with his production. He's done a nice job throwing the ball on the run. We'll get him calmed down a little bit in the second half and hopefully get some more production.''

Only Pettine knows why he chose to assume the role of Pessimistic Pete at that moment. Pettine answered in a way that begrudgingly credited Manziel for his adventures outside the pocket, and the "We'll get him calmed down'' blast came across as the teacher scolding the eager-beaver youngster for talking too much in class.

Nothing doing: In the second half, Manziel went 4-of-15 for 40 yards as the Browns were outscored, 17-0.

Manziel's offense produced a combined 27 net yards in five drives:

• Three plays, 9 yards, punt.

• Three plays, 6 yards, punt.

• Three plays, -13 yards, punt.

• Three plays, 0 yards, punt.

• Nine plays, 25 yards, downs.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Isaiah Crowell near right sideline at Cleveland 23.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET RIGHT, THROW ON RUN. Manziel escaped pressure up middle from four-man rush and rolled right. Crowell dropped the ball while on his knees.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Travis Benjamin over middle for 9 yards.

• Skinny: BETWEEN TACKLES, OFF BACK FOOT. Manziel backpedaled straight back against pressure from six-man rush. Throw, made while fading away, on target to Benjamin. 

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Duke Johnson Jr. on left side at Cleveland 39.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Manziel, under heavy pressure from five-man rush, over-shot covered Johnson.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Benjamin near left sideline at Cleveland 48.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET LEFT, ON RUN. Manziel escaped pressure up the middle and rolled left. Benjamin essentially whiffed on the catch: The ball went through his hands and banged off his helmet. Coverage by Adam Jones. Excellent play and throw by Manziel; Benjamin let him down.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Taylor Gabriel on left side for 3 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Basic screen that Gabriel caught at Cleveland 15.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Jim Dray for 13 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Browns' quick-snap caught Bengals off-guard. Afforded plenty of time by the line against four-man rush, Manziel found Dray, who made catch at Cleveland 32.

• Result: OUT OF POCKET RIGHT, ON RUN. Manziel, from under center, complete to Gary Barnidge on right side for 10 yards.

• Skinny: Designed rollout after play-fake. Barnidge made catch at Cleveland 43.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, scramble for 4 yards.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET LEFT. Manziel avoided sack from four-man-rush pressure and turned it into a gain.  

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Crowell on right side for 15 yards.

• Skinny: BETWEEN TACKLES, ON MOVE. Crowell made catch at Cincinnati 33 and avoided Leon Hall at Cincinnati 30.

• Result: Manziel, from under center, complete to Dwayne Bowe on right/middle for 4 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET, OFF-BALANCE. Manziel hit on release from blitz pressure. Bowe caught pass at Cincinnati 12. **Bowe's first reception of season.**

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, scramble for 7 yards.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET RIGHT. Manziel eluded pressure from four-man rush and gained extra yardage near sideline.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Gabriel in back left corner of endzone.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET LEFT, ON RUN. Manziel scrambled away from four-man rush. Gabriel unable to catch pass that was slightly behind him but hit at least one hand.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Barnidge over middle/right in endzone.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict helped Reggie Nelson defend seam route by Barnidge. Manziel threw it out of endzone.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Crowell on left side for 4 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Misdirection screen. Crowell made catch at Cleveland 37.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Gabriel on right side at Cleveland 49.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Heavy pressure from five-man rush. Manziel threw off back foot, pass defensed by diving Hall.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Benjamin on left side for 7 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Slant caught by Benjamin at Cleveland 13.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Barnidge on right/middle at Cleveland 25.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Vincent Rey pass defensed.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Johnson near left sideline for 26 yards.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET LEFT, ON RUN. Four-man rush. Johnson made catch at Cleveland 44. Terrific play by Manziel.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Barnidge near right sideline for 25 yards.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET RIGHT, ON RUN. Bengals' offside gave Manziel a free play. Manziel escaped heavy pressure from four-man rush. Barnidge made catch at Cincinnati 29.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Johnson near right sideline for 12-yard touchdown.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET RIGHT, ON RUN. Manziel escaped four-man pressure and threw a strike to Johnson, who scraped across the field. Excellent throw and good catch. Cleveland's longest drive of the season.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Crowell over middle for 7 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Basic dink. Crowell made catch @ Cincinnati 4.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, scramble for 11 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Hall's helmet hit Manziel's during tackle.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Gabriel over middle at Cleveland 37.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Pass bounced off wide-open Gabriel's left knee.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Benjamin on right side for 6 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Benjamin caught slant at Cleveland 22.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Barnidge over middle at Cleveland 39.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Pass deflected off covered Barnidge's outstretched left hand.

• Result: Manziel, from under center, incomplete on throwaway on left sideline at Cleveland 25.

• Skinny: IN POCKET, ON RUN. Manziel under pressure after designed roll right. Turned back into pocket, then made throw. Closest target was Johnson.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, sacked for minus-5 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Four-man rush. Manziel wanted to leak to right but was trapped.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, sacked for minus-8 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Three-man rush. Geno Atkins beat LG Joel Bitonio.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Barnidge over middle @ Cleveland 45.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Clean pocket against four-man rush. Manziel led Barnidge too far.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Gabriel over left/slash middle at Cleveland 30.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Five-man rush. Pass went through hands of Gabriel.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Bowe near right sideline at Cleveland 40.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Medium pressure from five-man rush. Throw high and wide of Bowe -- or so it would appear. Possible miscom.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Bowe over left middle for 16 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Bowe made catch at Cincinnati 28. Browns' initial first down of half.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete out of back of end zone (Benjamin).

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET RIGHT, ON RUN. Manziel did well to avoid sack. Essentially a throwaway.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Barnidge on left/middle at Cincinnati 9.

• Skinny: Barnidge fell down and wasn't able to catch what appeared to be accurate pass.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete out of back of end zone.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Five-man rush produced pressure. Essentially a throwaway.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, complete to Bowe over left middle for 11 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Manziel made pass while backpedaling against seven-man rush.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Bowe in left side of end zone.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET RIGHT. Manziel drilled on release by Michael Johnson.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, sacked for minus-11 yards.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET LEFT. Carlos Dunlap with coverage sack.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, scramble for 9 yards.

• Skinny: IN POCKET. Three-man rush.

• Result: Manziel, from shotgun, incomplete intended for Benjamin on right side in end zone.

• Skinny: OUT OF POCKET LEFT, ON RUN. Pass should have been intercepted by Dre Kirkpatrick.

One reason for the Bengals' success is, they tightened the screws on Manziel in the pocket. They pressured him and did not let him escape.

Bottom lines: Manziel deserves credit for a first half well-played. He pulled his teammates along on a fun ride, and the Browns were competitive.

Manziel is not solely to blame for his team's second-half fizzle. Plenty went wrong around him, and the Browns' defense turned in another clunker. But Manziel as the quarterback does have culpability tied to 40 yards passing, three sacks, 27 offensive net yards and zero points. And, most importantly, his team lost.

Final grade: B-

Piece by piece: Here is a breakdown of each Browns pass play:

FIRST QUARTER

First possession (0-0)

2nd-and-7 @ Cleveland 23

3rd-and-7 @ Cleveland 23

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 32

3rd-and-13 @ Cleveland 29

Second possession (Bengals, 7-0)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

3rd-and-2 @ Cleveland 28

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 41

2nd-and-8 @ Cincinnati 34

3rd-and-4 @ Cincinnati 30

1st-and-10 @ Cincinnati 15

2nd-and-6 @ Cincinnati 11

2nd-and-goal @ 9

3rd-and-goal @ 9

SECOND QUARTER

Third possession (Bengals, 7-3)

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 42

3rd-and-6 @ Cleveland 46

Fourth possession (Bengals, 14-3)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 8

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

2nd-and-9 @ Cleveland 47

3rd-and-5 @ Cincinnati 12

(Manziel at half: 11-of-18 for 128 yards, TD)

THIRD QUARTER

Fifth possession (Bengals, 14-10)

2nd-and-19 @ Cleveland 3

3rd-and-12 @ Cleveland 10

Sixth possession (Bengals 17-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

3rd-and-4 @ Cleveland 26

FOURTH QUARTER

Seventh possession (Bengals, 24-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 20

3rd-and-15 @ Cleveland 15

Eighth possession (Bengals, 31-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cleveland 24

2nd-and-10 @ Cleveland 24

3rd-and-10 @ Cleveland 24

Ninth possession (Bengals, 31-10)

1st-and-10 @ Cincinnati 37

1st-and-10 @ Cincinnati 21

2nd-and-10 @ Cincinnati 21

3rd-and-10 @ Cincinnati 21

4th-and-10 @ Cincinnati 21

1st-and-goal @ 10

2nd-and-goal @ 10

3rd-and-goal @ Cincinnati 21

4th-and-12 @ Cincinnati 12