Four and out: Surprises from the NFL in Week 2

Sep 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by New York Jets player Quinton Coples (98). Coples was called for a penalty on the play. New York Jets defeat the Indianapolis Colts 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) throws a pass in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /

He can play football.

The combination of NFL football, Johnny Manziel, and the Cleveland Browns appeared to be a disaster. Manziel had a very rough adjustment to NFL life, landing in rehab for alcohol abuse, and the Browns organization has had a spate of bad luck when it comes to their first-round picks.

Just last week, rookie Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was the darling of the league, stunning everyone with a phenomenally efficient victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A struggling team, the Browns were not expected to thwart Mariota’s attempts to lead his team to a 2-0 start to the season.

Cleveland, on the other hand, was dealt a humiliating loss to the New York Jets in Week 1, and starting quarterback Josh McCown suffered a concussion in the first quarter. Backup Manziel performed rather poorly in Week 1, throwing for 182 yards and a touchdown, but also fumbling the ball twice and throwing one interception. Far from stellar, but not surprising for a quarterback who has under-performed and disappointed since he made the transition into the NFL.

Surprisingly, Manziel and the Browns were victorious in Week 2 against the Titans. Johnny Football threw for two touchdowns (including a 60-yard strike to Travis Benjamin), and the Browns’ defense prevented Mariota from a repeating his near perfect performance from last week.

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