Fansided

NFL Week 7 Storylines: Watt Dominates, Wilson Struggles, Jags Winless

By Ryan Phillips

Oct 9, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. The Colts beat the Texans 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. The Colts beat the Texans 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 12, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) prepares to throw the ball during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) prepares to throw the ball during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Johnny who?

Don’t look now, but the Cleveland Browns are 3-2 and just spanked the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-10 on Sunday. While he’s not putting up numbers that would out him in the elite quarterback discussion, Brian Hoyer has been excellent under center for the Browns this year. He has not only handled Johnny Manziel mania incredibly well, he has also given head coach Mike Pettine no reason to even consider calling on the rookie from Texas A&M.

Through five games, Hoyer ranks seventh in the NFL in Total QBR (75.4), eighth in passer rating (99.5), fourth in yards per attempt (8.27) and has seven touchdowns and just one interception. With Hoyer at the helm this season, the Browns have lost twice by a total of five points.

Hoyer is a free agent after this season and he has artfully dodged questions about his long-term future. While he’s not saying so publicly, there’s almost no doubt he’ll want to go elsewhere if Manziel is still on Cleveland’s roster. If things stay as they are, no one would blame Hoyer if he turned down the Browns and explored free agency.

Eventually, the Browns have to go with Manziel since they wasted spent a first-round pick on him. For his sake, I hope Hoyer hasn’t bought a house in Cleveland yet. With all the Manziel-centric palace intrigue going on in the Browns kingdom over the next few months, Hoyer won’t even have the longevity of a Yorkist monarch.

For now, the Browns are on fire. Not quite Cuyahoga river on fire, but close.

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