Sunday saw the Cleveland Browns lose for the second straight week. Starting quarterback Brian Hoyer continues to struggle, completing just 14 of 31 passes for 140 yards and two picks. Hoyer has thrown just one touchdown pass against eight interceptions in his last five games.
Despite Hoyer's inability to get the offense going, Browns head coach Mike Pettine said afterward that, "I did not consider a change during the game."
OK, but what about a change for this upcoming game?
"With Cincinnati losing, the Browns are alive in the playoff hunt - barely. But, if they win all three remaining games that means they'd have beaten Cincinnati and Baltimore, two division teams," wrote ESPN Browns reporter Pat McManamon.
"In that sense, losing to the Colts, while excruciating, is not fatal. If the Browns win all three and the other teams stumble, they have a chance.
"That may mean that [Browns head coach Mike] Pettine decides it's best to stick with the guy who's played, especially if he determines after watching the film that the offensive struggles weren't all on Hoyer. That argument holds less water with every poor game, though."
Some NFL observers suggest that the reason Pettine hasn't made the move to Manziel full-time is that the coach is not convinced of Manziel's ability.
"It appears the coaches can't get through to Manziel to show a better commitment, as he reportedly showed up only two hours before kickoff," wrote ESPNCleveland.com's Tony Grossi.
"If Pettine ponders a change to Manziel, he should make that call early in the week to get Manziel dedicated to the challenge."
Cleveland invested a first-round pick on Manziel during the 2014 draft. That means that sooner or later - and it's probably the former - Manziel will get a shot at the starting job. Whether he is able to take advantage of that opportunity remains to be seen. In limited game action this season, Manziel has completed five of nine passes for 63 yards and rushed twice for 13 yards and a touchdown.
