Puskas: For one day, Browns got things right
The Cleveland Browns had everything working Sunday.
Even after watching every play of the Browns’ 24-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, I had to read that last sentence two or three times after typing it.
You know — just to be sure.
But yes, as strange as it sounds, the Browns absolutely dominated the 49ers in every way.
Johnny Manziel — starting again after a benching designed to change his off-the-field ways — played well.
The second-year quarterback was 21 of 31 for 270 yards with a touchdown pass. He stood in the pocket when it was warranted, used his legs to extend plays when necessary and delivered the ball with authority. He seemed to show that his 372-yard performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers a month ago was not just a fluke.
Maybe Manziel was auditioning for next season with the Browns. Maybe he was showing his wares for other teams in the market for a QB. Either way, he looked poised, was extremely effective and showed continued chemistry with wide receivers Brian Hartline and Travis Benjamin and tight end Gary Barnidge.
Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo’s game plan catered to Manziel’s strengths and the QB did not disappoint.
The Browns’ running game — the NFL’s worst most of the season — came to life behind an offensive line that played its best game to date. Isaiah Crowell rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns and Duke Johnson had 78 yards behind Joe Thomas, Austin Pasztor, Alex Mack, Boardman’s John Greco and Mitchell Schwartz.
Pasztor replaced the abysmal Cameron Irving at left guard. Now, if the Browns could find someone to replace Irving and Danny Shelton on the left side of the line on field goals and extra points, Travis Coons’ kicks might not be as much of an adventure.
The only downers about the offense was the loss of Hartline for the season with a broken collarbone after he caught eight passes for 107 yards in just three quarters and Manziel’s ill-advised pass for an inteception late in the first half. How competitive is Johnny Football? Television cameras caught Manziel repeatedly bashing himself in the head with a tablet as he sat on the sideline after the turnover.
The Browns’ defense was perhaps the biggest surprise Sunday.
The highest-paid defense in the NFL has been a season-long disappointment and coordinator Jim O’Neil has been on everyone’s short list of Browns employees most likely to go. More than a few players seemed destined to join O’Neil in being swept out of Cleveland, especially after an embarrassing 37-3 loss to the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals last week.
But on an unseasonably warm December day, the Browns’ defense was unseasonably dominant. They stopped the run, gave up no big pass plays and sacked 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert nine times.
The victory gets the Browns to just 3-10, but it was their first win in December since Dec. 9, 2012.
The caveat in all this? The 49ers are a long way from their most recent Super Bowl appearance. It had to be difficult for Denise DeBartolo York and her husband John — the team’s owners and co-chairmen — and their CEO son Jed to see their team get dominated by the Browns only an hour from her hometown of Youngstown.
Just last week, the 49ers rallied to beat the Chicago Bears in overtime. Maybe a second straight long trip east left the 49ers tired. They sure looked a step slow against the Browns.
It was a rare Sunday to remember for Cleveland fans. The next three weeks may not be so kind, as the Browns finish on the road against the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs and in Cleveland against the Steelers.
Those three games will show just how much Manziel has matured and could determine the fate of the coaching staff and GM Ray Farmer, if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam hasn’t yet made up his mind.
But for one day, at least, almost everything went the Browns’ way.
Write Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.