McCown has averaged 308.0 passing yards over his last six games but Pettine is facing pressure to turn things over to Manziel with his team out of the playoff chase.
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McCown is 1-6 with the Browns, but has played well.
As it stands, Pittsburgh (5-4) is preparing to start Jones as it attempts to tighten its hold on the AFC’s second wild-card spot.
Pettine reiterated McCown would start if he’s healthy enough to play. Cleveland is instead playing a 36-year-old quarterback in McCown that stands absolutely no chance of being a long-term option. “I can’t put an amount on it, but he’s steadily improved through the week”.
His numbers have not been too bad, but the Browns have to realize that they aren’t contenders this season and he likely won’t be their starter next year. If McCown doesn’t start, he would be inactive, Manziel would start and Davis would be the No. 2. “But it’s just from an information standpoint we have our plan built to be either way”.
If Pettine gives McCown the nod, would he be confident the 13-year National Football League veteran could carry out the game plan without taking most of the reps through the week? Manziel is without question the type of athlete that could lead the Browns in the future, but his time has to start now if the Browns truly want to find out whether or not he is that type of player.
“Yeah, it does”, he said.
There is uncertainty surrounding the Steelers’ quarterback situation, too.
While the quarterback situation for both teams remains somewhere between uncertain and top secret, the Browns and Steelers each have defensive players who have been declared out of Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh.
If we can do that, it’s safe to say that we’re past the point where Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin needs to step in and shut Big Ben down.
Confident that they’ll still be able to score behind Landry Jones and DeAngelo Williams, the Pittsburgh Steelers have turned their focus to shoring up the defense.
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In the second half, Roethlisberger tossed a 56-yard touchdown pass to Brown after Manziel threw a 7-yard touchdown to tight end Gary Barndige.
