JOHNNY FUMBLE
Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
The game — and perhaps the Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation — turned on two big hits on one play late in the first quarter against the New York Jets.
Josh McCown suffered a concussion on a collision, ushering in backup Johnny Manziel, and the Browns dropped their 11th straight season opener with a 31-10 loss Sunday.
Manziel did some good things, such as leading the Browns to a 7-0 lead with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin. But it was mostly downhill from there as Manziel threw an interception and lost two fumbles.
“We’ll see what Josh’s status is,” Manziel said of McCown, who will have to go through the NFL’s concussion protocol. “For me, this week is being ready to go, getting in with those guys and get a chance to mesh with them.”
On third-and-goal from the Jets 14, McCown took off up the middle and dived for the goal line. As he left his feet, McCown was hit by Calvin Pryor and Demario Davis, knocking the ball out of the quarterback’s hands and out of the end zone for a touchback.
Browns coach Mike Pettine defended McCown’s decision to go for the score instead of a protective slide.
“A running quarterback, guys who are mobile who get out in open space, I don’t know how many of them would have handled that differently when they get that close to the end zone,” Pettine said.
On his fifth play, Manziel lofted a perfectly placed pass down the left sideline that landed right in the hands of Benjamin, who outran Antonio Cromartie to give the Browns the lead.
But the Jets, who started slowly, finished strong in coach Todd Bowles’ debut. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes and Chris Ivory ran for two scores.
“It wasn’t perfect, by no means, but we did what we had to do to win,” Bowles said.
The Jets (1-0) had five takeaways against the Browns (0-1), who committed 12 penalties.
“A disappointing way to open the season,” Pettine said. “There are no words to express that. ... To lose the way we did, it’s difficult to swallow it.”
Manziel was 13 of 24 for 182 yards, including the long touchdown to Benjamin. He also led the Browns with 35 yards rushing on five carries.
“He just needs to show more ball security,” cornerback Joe Haden said. “He needs to know that people are coming for him at all times.
“He’ll be fine.”
There was a scary moment in the fourth quarter for the Jets when rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin was taken to a hospital after being carted off the field with head and neck injuries. New York also lost Cromartie in the second quarter with an injured left knee.
Cleveland linebacker Scott Solomon was carted from the field early in the game with an ankle injury. Pettine had no immediate update on the severity.