San Francisco 49ers vs Cleveland Browns Match Player Stats On Dec 13, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 13, 2015

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns snapped a seven-game losing streak Sunday and running back Isaiah Crowell rushed for two touchdowns to beat the San Francisco 49ers 24-10 in Johnny Manziel's return as the starting quarterback.

Manziel, who was banished to the bench two weeks ago for lying to the team about partying, threw for 270 yards on 21-of-31 passing for one touchdown and one interception.

The victory assured the 2015 Browns (3-10) will not tie the 1999 expansion team (2-14) for the worst record in franchise history. It also snapped a five-game losing streak at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The game marked Manziel's fourth start of 2015 after starting the second game of the season and two games in November. He was given plenty of time to throw and pick out open receivers to build a 10-0 lead.

The 49ers (4-9), whose defensive coordinator is former Browns head coach Eric Mangini, made some adjustments to pressure Manziel in the second quarter, but a dominant running game, swarming defense and Manziel's ability to elude trouble carried the day for the Browns.

Crowell got things going on the second series of the game with a 50-yard burst behind right guard Austin Pasztor. The Browns started the day last in the league in rushing, averaging only 73.9 yards a game, but they followed up the long run by Crowell with a 19-yard run by rookie running back Duke Johnson. In all the Browns rushed the ball 74 yards in the drive that ended with Crowell slicing into the end zone over right guard from the 1.

Crowell was the main force behind the Browns' second touchdown when his 54-yard run to the 5 set up a 3-yard touchdown run for a 17-3 lead with 8:53 to play. Crowell rushed for a career-high 145 yards on 20 carries.

In between Crowell touchdowns, Manziel threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gary Barnidge. It was Barnidge's eighth touchdown this season.

San Francisco quarterback Blaine Gabbert struggled against the Browns' pass rush, which entered the game with the third-fewest sacks in the league. The 49ers decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 on the Browns' 30 on the first play of the second quarter and Gabbert was sacked for a 6-yard loss by rookie linebacker Nate Orchard.

Gabbert was sacked nine times. He could not follow up last week's performance when the 49ers stormed into Chicago and beat the Chicago Bears 26-20.

NOTES: RB Shaun Draughn started at running back for 49ers rushing leader Carlos Hyde. ... 49ers TE Blake Bell started for injured Vance McDonald, who is out with a concussion. ... Terrelle Pryor was on the active roster for the Browns and listed as a wide receiver. ... Austin Pasztor started at left guard for the Browns in place of rookie Cameron Erving.