Johnny Manziel, Brian Hoyer, Josh Gordon- Cleveland Vets Rallying Around Rookie QB To Get Browns To NFL Playoffs?

It all started with a quarterback fake, a drive into the endzone, then the famous 'money' gesture. When Cleveland Browns backup quarterback Johnny Manziel - Johnny Football, as we're so often reminded - scored a touchdown on his first NFL drive after replacing starter Brian Hoyer, it made Browns coach Mike Pettine's choice all the easier as to who would start this week against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. It helps that Manziel is claiming his veteran Cleveland teammates "rallied around" him during their 26-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. But can Manziel get Cleveland to the playoffs?

Reports nfl.com's Marc Sessler, Manziel was adamant he's the go-to guy for the rest of the year for the Browns, and his teammates know it. "When I was told to go in today, I feel like those guys rallied around me for that little bit," said on Sunday. "I mean they came up to me, making sure I was locked in, they were encouraging me and they rallied around me for that little bit. 

"So," he continued, "If I were to be the guy moving forward, you want to carry that a little bit, that weight, even though its one drive and it's a small part of this whole entire football game, I still feel I am very thankful for those guys."

Johnny Manziel shows poise in Buffalo https://t.co/0XW2nlxHKZ pic.twitter.com/6IiXawISv3

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 1, 2014

Hoyer was yanked after two interceptions, one a missed throw to superstar wide receiver Josh Gordon. Gordon teamed up with Manziel could well be the  team's best best to make it to the playoffs from here on out.

For his part, Cleveland starter Hoyer isn't laying down, with ESPN's Pat McManamon reporting Hoyer as saying "We're 7-5," after Manziel replaced him in the fourth quarter against the Bills. "That just doesn't happen by luck. It was hard-earned and we've worked to get where we're at. And we're still in it. 

"With those other teams (AFC North division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore) losing yesterday, we have four more games; two of them are division games. You don't get to 7-5 in the NFL just by lucking into it."

Hoyer, it seems, is pointing to his record of 10-5 as a starter to get him the job against Indianapolis this week. "We're 7-5 here," Hoyer said. "We won three games last year when I started; 10-and-5 as a starting quarterback, that's not bad."

Pettine: We're not ready to make a decision at quarterback. #Browns

— Marc Sessler (@MarcSesslerNFL) December 1, 2014

But even if Browns coach Mike Pettine says he hasn't made up his mind, it doesn't sound like Hoyer will have much luck swaying him, with nfl.com's Greg Rosenthal saying Manziel "is going to be starting. When the coach doesn't say who's going to be starting, it's the new guy. He would know if he was sticking with Brian Hoyer."

It's a sentiment shared by SBnation's Brendan Porath, who said "three more nights of sleep should not change the course set Sunday in Buffalo, and Manziel will make his first NFL start next week in front of the home crowd in Cleveland."

Grossi: I think we will see Manziel introduced as the starter for Sunday. I am shocked it took this long into the season. #Browns

— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) December 1, 2014

What do you think? Does Johnny Football give the Browns a better chance at reaching the NFL playoffs? Or should Pettine stick with his incumbent starter Hoyer?