Cincinnati @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 6, 2014 ) Cleveland 24, Cincinnati 3

The much-anticipated Johnny Manziel era officially begins Sunday when the desperate Cleveland Browns host the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns have dropped two straight and quarterback Brian Hoyer has one TD and eight interceptions with a league-worst 50.8 passer rating over the last four games. "This decision is really not about Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel, it is about the Cleveland Browns," Browns coach Mike Pettine said. "We are trying to get the offense to perform at a higher level. Johnny has worked very hard to earn this opportunity."

The Browns' playoff hopes took a big hit last week when the defense scored twice but the offense gained just 61 yards in the second half and couldn't hold a 14-point lead in a 25-24 loss to Indianapolis. Nearly forgotten in all the hoopla surrounding Manziel is the Bengals, who allowed 25 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and yielded 500 yards (543) for a franchise-high third time in a season in the 42-21 loss to the Steelers. Cincinnati has a one–half game lead over Pittsburgh and Baltimore with games remaining versus Denver and at Pittsburgh.

TV: 1 pm. CBS. LINE: Bengals –1. O/U: 44

ABOUT THE BROWNS (7-6): Cleveland,which last made the playoffs in 2002, sits in 12th place in the postseason picture and pretty much needs to win out against the Bengals, Panthers and Ravens. “We know our margin for error now is zero,” Pettine said. “That we’ve got to win our last three or we’re done.” Manziel should have some extra time to throw since the Bengals are tied for last in the NFL with 15 sacks, but a run game which was averaging 4.4 yards per rush through the first five games has averaged just 3.1 since center Alex Mack went down with an injury in Week 6.

ABOUT THE BENGALS (8-4-1): Cincinnati has extra motivation after the Browns limited them to 165 yards and picked off Andy Dalton three times in a 24-3 drubbing Nov. 6. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis didn't help the cause, though, when social media blew up after he referred to Manziel as "a midget" during a local radio spot on Monday in Cincinnati. What should help is that Dalton and A.J. Green have been clicking of late, connecting on 33-of-47 targets over the last four games for 529 yards and three TDs.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Manziel will be the Browns' 21st starting quarterback since 1999 - most in the NFL over that span (Raiders 18, Dolphins 18).

2. The Browns have lost nine straight games in December or later.

3. Hoyer, the only Browns starter since 1999 to post a winning record (10-6), was 0-for-9 with two interceptions in the red zone in the last three games.

PREDICTION: Bengals 20, Browns 17