Spanning the virtual globe to bring you the latest news about the Cleveland Browns and the NFL – these are your Daily Dawg Tags for Monday, Dec. 14.
Cleveland Browns:
Browns cruise to victory over the 49ers
"The Cleveland Browns won for the first time in over two months with the 24-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday afternoon. Johnny Manziel started for the Browns and played a solid game. He only had one mistake, an interception where he threw the ball all the way back across the field, and he looked comfortable throughout. But while Manziel played well, his performance should not be that surprising. He has played well this season when given the chance. It is the rest of the team that never showed up, until today that is."
5 takeaways from the Browns win over the 49ers
"The Browns completely dismantled a San Francisco 49ers team that, by the end of the season, should challenge the Browns for the title of the league’s worst, by an oh-so-easy score of 24-10. The win broke Cleveland’s seven-game losing streak and was the Browns first win in the month of December since 2012. The offense was solid, the defense was dominant for the first time since Week 2, and outside of a couple of issues with blocking on the field goal unit, it was a fun three hours on a Sunday afternoon for the first time in far too long for Browns fans. Here are four takeaways from the win."
Win against inept foes proves little for Manziel’s future (ohio.com)
"When it comes to Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, now is not the time to overreact. Not after he threw for 270 yards and a touchdown against the horrendous San Francisco 49ers Sunday in the Browns’ 24-10 triumph at FirstEnergy Stadium. Not after his two career victories, both this season, have come against the Titans (3-10) and 49ers (4-9), both battling the Browns for the first pick in the 2016 draft. There are encouraging signs, to be sure. But are there enough to convince the Browns to bring Manziel back next season?"
Brian Hartline out for season with broken collarbone (cleveland.com)
"Unfortunately for Brian Hartline, he now knows exactly how Josh McCown feels. Hartline suffered a broken collarbone during Sunday’s 24-10 victory over the 49ers and is out for the season. It’s the same injury that McCown suffered two weeks ago against the Ravens."
Johnny Manziel continues to show on-field growth (ESPN)
"All the caveats apply. Bad opponent. Tougher games ahead. Still just six career starts. But one fact also applies: Johnny Manziel played his best overall game as a Cleveland Brown in Sunday’s win over San Francisco. His team won, and Manziel took a definite step toward showing he can be an NFL quarterback."
NFL News:
49ers hit new low in loss to the Browns (Niner Noise)
"The San Francisco 49ers gave their most lifeless and listless performance of the season in losing to the 2-10 Cleveland Browns 24-10 in Week 14. This performance was simply pathetic and embarrassing. After winning 26-20 in overtime in Week 13 against the Chicago Bears, the 49ers never got off the plane at Cleveland airport in this game."
Injuries piling up on Bengals (Stripe Hype)
"With a laundry list of injuries to several key players, the Cincinnati Bengals’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was the least of their concerns on Sunday."
Time has come to move on from GM Thomas Dimitroff (Blogging Dirty)
"It’s about that time, Falcons fans. The loss to Carolina by the score of 38-0 is one thing, but the way the 2015 season has revealed itself seems as if it’s the result of one massive issue, and that is the poor construction of the roster by Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff."
Khalil Mack credits Brock Osweiler for his five sacks (Just Blog Baby)
"In one of the biggest games of his career with the Oakland Raiders looking to keep their slim playoff hopes alive on the road against the Denver Broncos, 2014 fifth overall pick Khalil Mack introduced himself to the world with one of the best single player pass rushing performances of all-time."