The moment NFL fans have been waiting for is finally here. Johnny Manziel will make his first professional start for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday when they host their Ohio rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. Three teams in the AFC North have eight wins heading into Week 15. The Bengals are one of those teams, though they have a slight edge thanks to a tie from earlier in the year.
Bengals vs. Browns 2014 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Johnny Football makes his first NFL start against Cincinnati.
While they lead the division, there is much to be concerned about in Cincinnati. Quarterback Andy Dalton remains as puzzlingly inconsistent as ever. Last Sunday, he completed 72.4 percent of his throws for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. Just a week earlier, Dalton tossed three picks and nearly cost his team the game. His worst performance of the season was in Week 10 against the Browns, when he had a passer rating of 2.0, threw three interceptions and completed 30.3 percent of his passes. There’s no way of knowing which version of the fourth-year quarterback will show up this time.
Helping Dalton's cause is star receiver A.J. Green. Though he missed multiple games with a toe injury, Green is on pace to surpass 1,000 yards receiving this year. He recorded at least that many yards in each of his previous three seasons. If Cleveland's defense tries to take Green away, Dalton can also look for Mohamed Sanu, a third-year receiver in the midst of his best season. Sanu has 53 receptions for 754 yards and five touchdowns.
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The Browns also don't know what to expect from their starting quarterback, albeit for different reasons. Manziel played in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago, but he has never gone into an NFL game knowing he'll be the starter. Manziel's athleticism and improvisational skills make him a more difficult challenge for Cincinnati's defense than previous starter Brian Hoyer.
Still, Manziel's arrival puts additional pressure on Cleveland's offensive line. Because he holds the ball longer and rolls out of the pocket while attempting to make a play, the men in the trenches may have to block for upwards of five seconds at a time, an eternity by football standards. The Browns do have one of the best collections of blockers, however. Left tackle Joe Thomas is an All-Pro while left guard Joel Bitonio is playing at a similarly high level. That strong blindside protection should aid Manziel in his first start.
The Bengals enter Sunday with a record of 8-4-1. The Browns come in at 7-6.
How to watch
Where: FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
When: 1 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver
Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile | NFL Sunday Ticket
Odds
The Browns are 1-point favorites over the Bengals, with an over/under of 44 points, according to OddsShark.
Further reading
For more on the Bengals, check out Cincy Jungle. For additional coverage of the Browns, head on over to Dawgs by Nature.
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