Johnny Manziel will start at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns when they are away to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 8:25 p.m. ET.Cleveland head coach Mike Pettine did not have much of a choice but to start Manziel against the Bengals. Veteran QB Josh McCown has taken beatings in contests over the past couple of weeks. The rib injury he suffered against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday had him hunched over in pain while on the field. McCown showed toughness in remaining in that game for as long as possible.McCown, as explained by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, failed to adequately heal during the short week leading up to the Nov. 5 showdown of Ohio's two National Football League franchises:Enter the polarizing Manziel, who is still trying to find his footing in the NFL. Manziel is 1-0 as a starter for the Browns this season, tossing a pair of touchdowns in the win over the Tennessee Titans back in September. Manziel's first start of his NFL career occurred against the Bengals last December. As Ryan Bass and Heath Cummings of CBS Sports pointed out, that start did not go well for Manziel:Manziel and the Browns will be up against it Thursday night. Cleveland is 2-6 with massive holes on both sides of the football. The Bengals, meanwhile, are 7-0. Cincinnati is coming off a huge road win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A menacing pass rush of the Bengals has thus far accumulated 20 sacks this season. Neither Stephen A. Smith nor Skip Bayless of ESPN'sFirst Take have high hopes for Manziel as it pertains to Thursday's game:Manziel had his fair share of critics among fans and NFL analysts even before he threw a pass during his rookie season. His noted off-the-field issues, including a lengthy stint at a rehabilitation facility earlier this year, only provided detractors with additional ammunition. Manziel will need to erase such noise and focus only on the task at hand if the Browns are to have a chance of upsetting the Bengals.Manziel spoke with ClevelandBrowns.com following Wednesday's practice about this latest chance to prove his worth to the Browns:"I'm excited about the opportunity," Manziel said after Wednesday's practice. "Starting against the Titans seems like such a long time ago but I've been in games for the last two weeks and with every opportunity I get, I try to make the most of them. I feel like I've gotten two solid days of reps with the first team on this short week so I'm confident that I will be prepared and ready to go tomorrow night."His first NFL start came last season against Cincinnati. He completed 10-of-18 passes for 80 yards and two interceptions in a 30-0 loss."Obviously, that was not the first career start I would have hoped for or expected when the Bengals came to our stadium last year," Manziel said. "I did learn from it and I feel much more confident in my abilities now because of the progress I feel like I've made over this season. My experience in that game from last year should help me tomorrow night."Cleveland general manager Ray Farmer and Pettine will be looking for Manziel to take additional positive strides against the Bengals. The Browns are on the verge of spiraling downward toward yet another losing season. Manziel playing even adequately against the Bengals could represent a light at the end of what has been a long and dark tunnel for long-suffering fans.Jason Cole of Bleacher Report reported Wednesday that some within the Browns organization have high expectations for Manziel heading into Thursday evening:It is not only anonymous/unnamed sources within the organization who are impressed with how much Manziel has improved from last season. Pettine, per NFL Media's Albert Breer, told reporters Tuesday evening about one way Manziel has progressed from his rookie campaign:He learned, 'I don't have to turn every play into a punt return.' That was a function of two things. One, that was what he was used to doing. And two, when you don't know what a defense is in and you're not sure where the ball should go, extend the play until you do know. Now, if I'm confident and I know and I can process quick and get the ball out, then that's what you want.One obstacle Manziel can do nothing about Thursday is the fact he will be without multiple offensive weapons. Wide receivers Brian Hartline and Andrew Hawkins remain in the NFL concussion protocol. They are two of what will be several Cleveland players who will be spectators when the Browns face the Bengals.All things considered, this is the worst possible game on the schedule for Manziel to be given the keys to the offense. Manziel and the Browns had a short week to prepare for Cincinnati. Cleveland's roster is a shell of what it was in August. The Bengals, on the other hand, are the uncrowned kings of the AFC North before the first full weekend of November.Perhaps Thursday night will be when the figurative light turns on for Manziel. Maybe the Bengals will be caught looking ahead to future fixtures. Pettine and his staff could have what is, to date, the best night of their Cleveland careers in scheming a plan that shocks the Bengals and the NFL community.More likely, though, is that Manziel and the Browns will lose to a better team.
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