Titans vs. Browns: Cleveland Grades, Notes and Quotes

Johnny Manziel got his first victory as an NFL starting quarterback, beating fellow Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans 28-14 in Week 2 of the 2015 season.

Manziel looked deep on his first pass—the Cleveland Browns’ second play from scrimmage—and connected with Travis Benjamin for a 60-yard touchdown. In a fitting turn of events, former Browns running back Terrance West fumbled on the Titans’ next drive. His former backfield mate Isaiah Crowell capitalized on the ensuing possession and ran it in from 11 yards out to extend the Browns' lead to 14-0.

In the second quarter, Benjamin’s electric 74-yard punt return touchdown put the team ahead 21-0 going into halftime.

But after starting out hot in the first half, the Browns started to let their lead slip away while shifting to a more conservative game plan that almost cost them the victory.

Mariota orchestrated two straight scoring drives to give his team a fighter’s chance in the final half of the fourth quarter. The second drive ended in rookie receiver Dorial Green-Beckham snagging a perfectly thrown touchdown reception with Joe Haden straggling behind in coverage.

The Browns were backpedaling and hanging onto a 21-14 lead, but got the ball back with just 6:42 left on the clock.

After two first downs and some time milked off the clock with an effective ground game, Benjamin and Manziel hooked up again. Manziel juked a Titans rusher and rolled left, paused—along with 67,431 in attendance—and then found his receiver one more time on a 50-yard touchdown connection.

FirstEnergy Stadium went from silent to a riot in seconds after Benjamin walked into the end zone.

Now trailing 28-14, Mariota tried to get the Titans back in the game, but was strip-sacked by Armonty Bryant to end their faint comeback hopes.

That sack of Mariota was the Browns’ seventh of the rookie quarterback, a definitive statement by a defense that failed to bring down Ryan Fitzpatrick at all last week.

Looking forward, the Browns will have a decision to make at the quarterback position. Josh McCown should clear the NFL concussion protocol sometime this week, meaning coach Mike Pettine could have to decide between his preferred veteran quarterback and riding the momentum Manziel has been building this season.

Cleveland hosts Oakland next week at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Position Grades for Browns

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Position	Grade
QB	B+
RB	A-
WR	B+
TE	C+
OL	B+
DL	B+
LB	B+
DB	B-
Special Teams	A
Coaching	C+

The Cleveland Browns offense looked like an entirely different unit in Week 2, moving defenders and creating multiple big-chunk plays. All of that started with the team’s offensive line. While they had some missed assignments again this week, the line played well overall in keeping Johnny Manziel relatively clean and opening up enough space for Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell to find room to run.

Mitchell Schwartz had a key seal block on Crowell's 11-yard touchdown run.

Speaking of Manziel, the young quarterback had a positive overall game highlighted by two deep touchdown throws and several good reads to extend drives. He didn’t panic and attempt to run at the first sign of pressure. Rather, Manziel created space by using his legs, kept his eyes downfield and made some very good NFL throws. He did fumble twice in the second half again this week, but his teammates fell on both. He needs to continue to work on ball security.

Crowell and Johnson were solid one week after being out-rushed by Manziel and Josh McCown. The two combined with 27 total carries and managed 115 yards on the ground.

Manziel’s receivers weren’t much of a factor as a unit, but Travis Benjamin more than made up for their lack of involvement. Benjamin’s three catches went for 115 yards and two scores. Andrew Hawkins also caught three balls and helped moved the chains when called on.

After three drops last week, Cleveland's tight ends were targeted just once. Gary Barnidge continued showing his reliability with a 17-yard first-down reception.

Defensively, the Browns looked motivated to avoid repeating their Week 1 mistakes. Even after their counterparts stalled offensively in the second half, Browns defenders were flying to the ball and making plays. Jordan Poyer had an interception nullified by a penalty a couple of plays before Mariota got his team within seven points on a touchdown throw to Dorial Green-Beckham.

Joe Haden was beaten by the rookie receiver on that play. Overall, Haden had a good day but was scored on for the second consecutive week. Brandon Marshall beat him on a high-pointed pass in the end zone last week, and Green-Beckham—another massive receiver at 6’5” and 237 pounds—got the better of him across the middle on a high ball from Mariota. We’ll see if Haden continues to struggle again this year, or if he breaks out of this early-season funk like he did in 2014.

Jim O’Neil and his staff created a good game plan for the week: blitz and confuse Mariota and jam his receivers. It worked. The Browns logged seven sacks, stripped the rookie quarterback twice, hit him all day and picked him off once.

While O’Neil and Mike Pettine had everything covered on defense, John DeFilippo, and maybe Pettine too, get some negative marks for their conservative "run, run and then pass" strategy after going up by three touchdowns. Manziel bailed them out on a late third-down touchdown throw to Benjamin to put them back up by two scores.

Benjamin’s 74-yard punt return touchdown included an excellent impact block by Jordan Poyer and a pancake by Pierre Desir on punter Brett Kern. Benjamin leapfrogged the falling punter and scampered into the end zone. Travis Coons put every kickoff into the end zone and none was returned. Andy Lee continued booming punts, sending six of them for a 53.2 yard average and a long of 62.

Travis Benjamin Nets 269 All-Purpose Yards

David Richard/Associated Press

Cleveland Browns receiver Travis Benjamin caught fire again in Week 2, scorching the Tennessee Titans for 269 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns. 

The Titans got a heavy dose of Benjamin last season after he scored the final two touchdowns to complete a miraculous Browns comeback win.

"(Benjamin) might not be allowed in Nashville ever again. He's the Titan-killer," coach Mike Pettine said during his postgame press conference (h/t 92.3 The Fan).

Benjamin caught touchdowns of 60 and 50 yards, and his third score was a 74-yard punt return.

So far, that's four scores for Benjamin and three touchdown catches of 50 or more yards.

Pettine Doesn't Commit to a Quarterback

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Manziel will remain the team's starter while McCown continues to battle back from his Week 1 concussion, Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine said during his postgame press conference (h/t 92.3 The Fan).

He noted that he will have a decision to make once McCown clears the leagues NFL concussion protocol. That could happen early this week.

Pettine also acknowledged Manziel's success, but did point out the two strip-sacks that the Browns recovered this week. Against the New York Jets both of Manziel's fumbles were recovered by their opponent.

Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo told the coaching staff over their headsets that "coaching is overrated" after Manziel used improvisation to create the team's final touchdown, Pettine said.

"It was vintage Manziel," Pettine concluded.

Manziel: I've Come a Long Way

David Richard/Associated Press

Manziel was all smiles during his postgame press conference. The second-year quarterback has been making marked improvements all offseason, and he's beginning to translate those flashes to real game action.

"Teammates were dancing in the locker room. It feels sweet. I'm going to be hard on myself watching film, but I've come a long way," Manziel said after the game (h/t 92.3 The Fan).

Travis Benjamin put his hand up, and Manziel saw him for the game-sealing touchdown. Manziel always keeps his eyes downfield, Benjamin said in a postgame interview, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

These are all positive signs, and Manziel has surely come a long way from the quarterback who was embarrassed, prioritized his celebrity status over his craft and couldn't earn the trust of his coaching staff and teammates during his rookie season.

Gipson: Mariota Seemed Confused

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

In a postgame interview (h/t Steve Doerschuk of CantonRep.com), Tashaun Gipson said rookie Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota "seemed confused" by the Cleveland Browns' defensive barrage.

He certainly looked confused while being sacked, hit and hurried all day by the Browns defense. Mariota was strip-sacked twice, missed some open receivers, threw an interception and was sacked five other times by the tenacious group.

The performance was a statement by a defense that was under fire after giving up 31 points to the Ryan Fitzpatrick-led New York Jets offense last week. Mariota put up four touchdowns in the first half against Tampa Bay in Week 1, and it seemed unlikely Cleveland would be able to slow him down.

But as Gipson put it, Mariota was confused, and that's to be expected from a rookie quarterback in his second start.

After being battered around for four quarters, Mariota received treatment on his ankle, according to Tom Withers of the Associated Press.

Mike Hoag (@MikeHoagJr) covers the Cleveland Browns for Bleacher Report and is the managing editor of Browns Beat.