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Browns beat Titans, 5 takeaways from the victory

By Steven Kubitza

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Sep 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) celebrates after throwing a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

One week can make all the difference.

The Cleveland Browns made football fans in Cleveland happy with a 28-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

Johnny Manziel recorded his first career victory and did not turn the ball over once. He fumbled twice, but both were recovered by the Browns.

Here are five things we learned from today’s game:

1. Johnny Manziel made a case for the starting job, but did not earn it outright.

It only took two plays on offense for the Browns to score a touchdown. A 60-yard touchdown pass from Manziel to Travis Benjamin gave the Browns a lead that would be held the entire game.

Manziel finished with eight completions for 172 yards and two touchdowns, both to Benjamin. But most importantly, he did not throw an interception. There were a few questionable passes into tight coverage, but the Titans failed to take advantage.

The problem with Manziel, although he did not turn the ball over, is ball security. He fumbled twice, and if either was recovered by the Titans, the game could have gone much differently.

After the game, Mike Pettine said he will wait and see who the starter will be once Josh McCown is cleared to play. McCown never really lost the job, and does deserve a shot to show what he can do. He will just be on a short leash if he turns the ball over or is ineffective.

While Manziel did not come out and win the starting job, today was never really about that. He just needed to play well enough for the Browns to win and he did just that.

2. The defense showed up after going missing against the Jets

Marcus Mariota must have felt really great about himself after his four-touchdown performance in his first career NFL start. Things went differently in his second start.

The Browns got to him early and often, sacking him seven times and forcing three fumbles, two of which were recovered by the Cleveland defense. The Titans lost a third fumble, but we will get to that shortly.

The Titans did gain 385 total yards, but much of that came after the Browns took their 21-0 halftime lead. The blitzes came less often and more space was available for Mariota.

The issue going forward will be the run defense, as the Titans were able to gain 166 yards on the ground. Things look great when the quarterback is being pressured often, but none of it matters if the opposing team can just go to the run game and score that way.

After next week and the Raiders, the schedule turns into 0-13 potential. A run-defense in the bottom third of the league will doom the Browns regardless of how they play on offense.

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3. Trading Terrance West was a smart move.

Three rushes for ten yards and a lost fumble. That was how former Terrance West, former third-round pick of the Browns, performed in his return to Cleveland.

There were boos heard from the crowd when West carried the ball, though I don’t think it’s fair to boo someone who simply did not perform well. If anyone should be booed, it should be Ray Farmer, but he was enjoying the game at home. Actually, he was probably too busy texting, but that was too easy. I had to.

There is little else to say about West, as he is just another reminder of a busted pick by the Browns.

4. Travis Benjamin is the #1 receiver.

Travis Benjamin had himself a game to remember. He caught three passes for 115 yards, with two of those going for touchdowns, while adding a third touchdown via a 78-yard punt return right before halftime.

I am going with Benjamin as the top receiver not only because of his performance Sunday, but because he seems to be the only one capable of being a big-play threat. Dwayne Bowe is getting paid large sums of money to have one pass thrown his way, and Brian Hartline went without a catch against Tennessee. Andrew Hawkins had three catches, but Benjamin is the one player who can break away for a touchdown seemingly at will.

This may change if McCown regains the starting role, but if Manziel is in the game, Benjamin will be the top offensive threat.

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5. Johnny Manziel is a work in progress.

Johnny Football is back!!!!!!!

Things like this are often said every time Manziel completes a pass, but there is a need for patience when watching a young quarterback. Contrary to what Merril Hoge may think, the Browns need to ease Manziel into the starting role.

And by ease in, I mean let him study behind McCown for an entire season, given McCown stops trying to injure himself in games.

The goal should be for Manziel to mature as a quarterback before he is a full-time starter. It is a very non-Cleveland thing to do, but it will work out if they give it time.

But talk of Manziel will dominate the week, so let’s look at the overall good news. The Browns are 1-1 and the Ravens just lost to the Raiders as I type this very sentence. The same Raiders team the Browns will play next Sunday.

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