49ers vs. Browns: Full Cleveland Game Preview

Johnny Manziel might be starting for the Cleveland Browns against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 14, but he still has a long way to go to earn back his coach’s trust.

“It would be hard for me to sit here and say we have a zero-tolerance policy, but if something were to occur, I could imagine that the repercussions would be harsh,” Browns head coach Mike Pettine said Wednesday.

Manziel has four weeks to show signs he’s maturing and improving on the field. We have seen it, despite him being 1-2 as a starter this season. Three weeks ago he became only the third Browns quarterback since 1999 to throw for over 300 yards in a single game.

His pocket presence, progressions and ball security have all improved.

And with his team struggling at 2-10—the Browns franchise’s 12th consecutive season without a playoff berth—he understands how big the next month is for his NFL career.

"I can only speak for myself, but I am completely bunkered in for these last four weeks," Manziel said. "I am going to come in here every day and give every ounce of energy that I have to try to win these last four games.”

Manziel doesn’t have to just continue showing improvement during the next four games. He needs to bring it all together and turn that progression into a victory or two.

This week is winnable. Cleveland has road matchups against Seattle and Kansas City up next, and then it finishes the season as hosts to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

If Manziel is going to make a statement, there’s no better time than at home against a traveling West Coast team that has struggled all season.

Location: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland

Date: Sunday, Dec. 13

Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Week 13 Results and Recap

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The Browns physically showed up to play a football game at FirstEnergy Stadium last week. Their bodies were there on the field, but their focus appeared to be left in the locker room.

Cincinnati completed its season sweep of the Browns with a dominant 37-3 drubbing of its in-state rival.

Pittsburgh annihilated the surprisingly competitive—until this game—Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts, 45-10. Antonio Brown had two receiving touchdowns and also scored on a punt return.

Baltimore might have four wins, but its season is just as over as Cleveland’s. The Ravens fell to the Miami Dolphins, 15-13, despite Ryan Tannehill throwing for just 86 yards.

AFC North Standings

Cincinnati Bengals (10-2)

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5)

Baltimore Ravens (4-8)

Cleveland Browns (2-10)

News and Notes

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Johnny Manziel Named Week 14 Starting Quarterback—Again

Apparently the punishment for lying to coach Mike Pettine is a two-week timeout. Johnny Manziel watched from the sidelines during the last two games after violating the trust of his coach by showing up on social media while drinking champagne at a night club.

“Johnny will be our starting quarterback on Sunday,” Pettine said. “He’s been solid in the building over the last couple of weeks and we are hopeful he takes this opportunity to continue to build on the progress he’s made on the field throughout the season.

At 2-10, it makes sense for the Browns to see what Manziel can do over the next four games. He has looked improved in limited action this year and has, by all accounts, been more professional with his approach—at least while on the clock at team facilities.

Will he be able to do enough in the next four weeks to make Pettine and Ray Farmer confident enough in him to forego drafting a quarterback with their No. 1 pick in April?

That’s the burning question the Browns must answer.

Joel Bitonio Placed on Injured Reserve

Browns starting left guard Joel Bitonio missed two games with an ankle injury, and then injured it again last week against Cincinnati. That resulted in him being placed on injured reserve earlier this week. To fill the void, the team claimed offensive lineman Gabe Ikard from Buffalo.

Bitonio heading to IR on a team destined for a top-three draft pick isn’t the newsworthy part of this story, though. Instead of rookie Cam Erving taking his spot to get some valuable playing time, Pettine has decided to go with Austin Pasztor at left guard this week.

Erving is being benched, essentially, for his poor play last week against the Bengals—and probably all season as he adjusts to life in the NFL and the switch to guard. He was up against Geno Atkins, but it’s not hard to see the rookie struggling when he’s on the field.

“Get better. Get better. I just have to get better,” Erving said. “I played like [garbage]. I am not starting.”

While he was probably frustrated having to answer questions about being benched, it’s comforting to see him taking accountability for his poor play. It would be refreshing to hear his coaching staff accept some of that blame for moving him to a new position and then being unhappy with the results.

Latest Injury News

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Concussions: Joe Haden, Taylor Gabriel, Justin Gilbert and Andrew Hawkins

The foursome of recovering concussion cases all were absent at practice on Wednesday and are questionable to play against San Francisco.

Pettine said Haden was “near” the end of the concussion protocol after missing five straight games.

A good gauge of weekly availability for players in the concussion protocol is Friday’s practice. If these four continue to sit on the sidelines while waiting to clear, there’s a good chance they will miss another game this weekend.

Travis Benjamin and Marlon Moore

The Browns dressed only four receivers last week: Marlon Moore, Travis Benjamin, Brian Hartline and Darius Jennings. They lost Moore and Benjamin to injuries and were forced to play Hartline and Jennings exclusively for much of the second half.

Benjamin didn’t practice Wednesday, nursing the shoulder injury he suffered in that game. Moore was limited with a rib injury. Notably, Moore missed time during preseason with a rib injury.

If Hawkins, Gabriel, Moore and Benjamin are unable to play, it looks like Terrelle Pryor and Dwayne Bowe might both be active and see the field this week. Pettine is out of other options at this point.

Key Matchups

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CB Charles Gaines vs. WR Torrey Smith

Rookie defensive back Charles Gaines is experiencing growing pains as he prepares to play in his third consecutive game. He missed much of the season while spending a lot of time on the designated-to-return list.

Torrey Smith scored a game-winning 71-yard touchdown last week and will have plenty of chances to take advantage of the rookie, and then burn him with his speed.

RB Shaun Draughn vs. Browns rush defense

It’s no secret teams are going to continue to run right at the Browns. With Blaine Gabbert managing the game for the Niners, expect former Browns running back Shaun Draughn to play a large role in their offensive game plan.

Baltimore gouged Cleveland for more than 140 yards last week. That type of production from the running back position again this week is one that could help result in another Browns loss.

Matchup X-Factor

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Browns X-factor of the Week: WR Darius Jennings

We’ll likely see plenty of rookie receiver Darius Jennings this week. After catching five of his seven targets in his NFL debut last week, he’ll now have Manziel throwing the ball his way. The two undoubtedly developed chemistry while working together frequently throughout the summer.

Jennings is also a threat to score on special teams. He fielded five kickoffs and averaged 22.4 yards per return last week against Cincinnati. That’s a role he excelled with in college, and he showed flashes of excitement in during his 54-yard kickoff return against the Washington Redskins.

The 49ers struggled last week on special teams. Chicago Bears returner Deonte Thompson took a kickoff 74 yards to set up what should have been a game-winning field goal—kicker Robbie Gould missed a 36-yarder in the closing seconds of regulation.

Prediction: Browns 20, 49ers 17

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Predicting a game that’s predicated on the desire of two underperforming teams isn’t ideal.

The Browns are coming off an embarrassing beatdown last week, and the 49ers squeaked out a fluky win over the Bears. It really could go either way. But the Browns have to have some pride left, and they actually match up well against the 49ers. It might be a low-scoring game, but it’s one even they can win.

Expect Manziel to lead his team to an early lead as the 49ers battle the time change. The visitors have had just one road win this season and are allowing an average of 26 points on the road to just 15.8 at home.

They’ll certainly be able to make it interesting, though, because Cleveland hasn’t proved it’s capable of shutting down anyone this season.

After all, they did lose two weeks ago, albeit on a freak special teams play, to Baltimore backups Matt Schaub, Kamar Aiken and Javorius Allen.

Final Prediction: Browns 20, 49ers 17

All quotes and team news announcements obtained via press release e-mails from Browns communications manager Rob McBurnett.