The Cleveland Browns trailed Seattle at halftime on Sunday, but being behind had nothing to do with the play of Johnny Manziel.
Sum it up this way: The Browns gave the Seahawks three points with a ridiculous penalty for a face mask on the last play of the half, a play that started at the Seattle 43 and simply required the defense to get receiver Jermaine Kearse to the ground.
Make a tackle with no time on the clock and Kearse in the middle of the field and the half ends with the Browns down seven.
Instead Tramon Williams grabbed Kearse's face mask, which gave the Seahawks 9 yards (half the distance) and a gift field goal on an untimed down. That play gave Seattle a 20-10 lead at halftime and the ball to start the second half.
Quarterback play was the least of the Browns' issues — as the defense gave up points to the Seahawks on all four of their possessions, including the last one that started with 16 seconds left.
Manziel started well, guiding the Browns on a 15-play, 80-yard drive to open the game. That drive finished with a touchdown throw to Gary Barnidge on the run. Manziel went 6-for-8 for 60 yards and the TD on the drive. The scoring throw came on third down, and was the third completion and third-down conversion for Manziel on the drive. On those three third downs, he was 3-for-3 for 34 yards and the touchdown.
Manziel's second possession was blown up on first down when Brandon Mebane beat Cam Erving to sack Manziel on third down. A short drive in the second quarter led to a field goal, but Manziel had a third-down throw in the two minute drill dropped by Taylor Gabriel.
That was the third drop by Browns receivers in the first half. Terrelle Pryor dropped the first pass thrown to him, and Travis Benjamin dropped an easy catch on a slant.
Manziel finished the half 10-for-17 for 86 yards and one touchdown.
