Johnny Manziel, oft known as Johnny Football, will start his first National Football League game on Sunday, Dec. 14. The Browns entertain division rival Cincinnati, a team they defeated 24-3 back on Nov. 6 with Brian Hoyer under center.
Manziel will, of course, draw much fanfare, but it is probably safe to say that he will not have a great impact on Super Bowl ticket prices. The only way the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Texas A&M is going to the Super Bowl this year is if he buys his own ticket.
Just three weeks ago, the Browns and new head coach Mike Pettine were 6-3 and entertaining the idea of the franchise’s first division title since 1989 (back when the division was known as the AFC Central). Now after consecutive losses to Buffalo and Indianapolis, Cleveland is 7-6 and facing the division-leading Bengals with a new, rookie quarterback.
Pettine, and many others around the league, are excited to see what Manziel can do. The playbook has been trimmed some, but Pettine thinks Manziel’s mobility can be the one factor that offsets his lack of experience. The Browns head coach had no problem announcing Manziel as the starter after Hoyer watched his QB rating plummet each week since he guided the Browns to victory over Cincinnati in the first meeting
After Cincinnati, the Browns travel to Carolina and then to Baltimore, another tough AFC North rival. Regardless of Sunday’s outcome and how Manziel fares, it should be safe to say that the only Super Bowl 2015 tickets that Manziel will acquire will be ones he pays for this time around.
The Bengals lead the division at 8-4-1. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are tied at 8-5. San Diego is in second place in the AFC West at 8-5 and Miami, Buffalo, and Houston all have identical records to Cleveland.
Anything can happen, but with a rookie quarterback needing three wins, two against formidable opponents, as well as help from the rest of the league; Cleveland fans will not have to worry about 2015 Super Bowl tickets.
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