Bengals take of business, rock reeling Browns 37-3

Quarterback Austin Davis is the third starter the Browns have used this year, after Josh McCown (now injured and out for the season) and Johnny Manziel (off-the-field issues) combined for a 2-9 record through the first 11 games. Then Austin Davis was Austin Davis.

With all that being said, yeah, it’s pretty messed up that so many proven veterans are struggling to stick on with teams in today’s National Football League, and, yet, young, self-centered Johnny Manziel gets reprieve after reprieve. But it’s just my nature. He aggravated his injury on Sunday in the 37-3 loss to the Bengals.

The move marks the sixth quarterback change for the Browns since the season opener, and the third time Manziel has been given the job. Jennings was on the practice squad until being promoted Saturday and acquitted himself well with five catches. Davis threw for 230 yards and an interception on 25-of-38 passing.

-RUSHING OFFENSE: C-minus. It is the same story week after week.

The Bengals not only improved to 10-2 for the first time since 1975, they became the No. 1 seed in the AFC – meaning a bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs – because of New England’s 35-28 loss to Philadelphia. Cleveland has a one-game “lead” on the Titans and the San Diego Chargers in that race to finish last in the NFL. Isaiah Crowell did break loose on a 23-yard run, which was encouraging, but rookie Duke Johnson managed a net two yards on five carries.

Gabbert is coming off a 26-20 overtime victory over the Bears, in which he threw a 71-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Torry Smith and ran 44 yards for the game-tying touchdown in regulation.

-PASS DEFENSE: D. The secondary is depleted because cornerbacks Joe Haden and Justin Gilbert are nursing concussions. Shawn Williams filled in for George Iloka at safety. The “Thunder and Lightning” combination of Hill and Giovani Bernard tore through the Browns, and amassed 124 rushing yards.

Taking the business as usual approach and worrying about only themselves has helped the Bengals demolish inferior Browns and Rams teams in the past two weeks. Everything seems to be running smoothly for the Bengals as this may finally be the season they are able to actually compete come January. Foles was benched just after the midway point in the season and was forced to play the last two weeks because of a concussion to backup turned starter Case Keenum.

The Browns went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Bengals’ 40 during the next series.

It may not matter who starts, and Browns fans have grown increasingly disgusted with their team. The Browns, as a whole, are just an absolute disaster, and adding Manziel back to the starting lineup is simply a means to see what he has and maybe boost waning ticket sales. Though the Browns will not admit that Manziel is not their quarterback of the future, in fact they have stated the opposite in that they want to see what the team have in him, the organization will do whatever it takes to fill the stadium.