49ers’ notes: Manziel dazzles; Dawson has memorable homecoming

The Browns were able to run the ball with great success, netting 230 yards on the ground versus the 49ers defense. Crowell led the way with his first 100-yard-plus rushing game of the season, finishing with 145 and a pair of touchdown runs.

On first-and-10 at the 20, Crowell broke free for a 19-yard run to the 1, but the play was wiped out by left guard Austin Pasztor’s holding penalty.

Johnny Manziel had one of his better games as a pro against the 49ers defense.

Manziel looked spry while evading 49ers defenders, using his legs to buy him more time in order to complete 21-of-31 passes for 270-yards and one touchdown.

This season has been injury after injury for them, and the only national spotlight they get is when new photos of Johnny Manziel at a club or a party surface. If Manziel continues his improvement against those quality opponents, the Browns might be willing to invest more time in him.

“I probably shouldn’t have overreacted the way I did, but it’s the National Football League and when those chances are there, you’ve got to make the majority”, he said.

There really was little positive to take from this game.

So very bad that what Manziel and the Browns did Sunday has to be taken with a grain of salt the size of the egg the organization has laid this season.

Then on third-and-26 at the 4, 49ers linebacker Corey Lemonier was on the verge of sacking Manziel in the back of the end zone for a safety, but Lemonier grabbed Manziel’s face mask and was penalized for it.

After winning in Chicago last week, the 49ers seemed to think they could stroll into Cleveland and roll the Browns, who had lost 15 of their previous 17.

Manziel also found six different receivers on the day including newly extended Gary Barnidge, who hauled in the only touchdown catch of the day.

NOTES: RB Shaun Draughn started for 49ers rushing leader Carlos Hyde….

Since I’m neither respected or well-compensated, I figure I should go in the opposite direction with my title in the hopes that I’ll fool someone.

Two plays before Crowell scored, the Browns dodged a bullet. Was it the fact everyone was not auditioning for a job in 2016?

Gaskins will have to pass the NFL’s concussion protocol to be cleared to play the Cincinatti Bengals on Sunday.

Bigheaded? How on earth could the 49ers be bigheaded, given their own modest total of just four victories? Rookie Nate Orchard proved himself as one of the Browns’ cornerstones, with two sacks.

The victory assured the 2015 Browns (3-10) will not tie the 1999 expansion team (2-14) for the worst record in franchise history.

The 49ers could create nothing on offense, stop nothing on defense, and handed the Browns every opportunity imaginable.