NFL Week 15 preview: Bengals @ Browns: Johnny Manziel finally debuts - can he walk the walk?

Are you ready for The Johnny Football Show when Manziel finally takes to the field from the first minute for the Cleveland Browns?

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The NFL’s most hyped prospect has had to contend with the shadows of the bench but will be unleashed as a starter for the first time when the Cleveland Browns face the Cincinnati Bengals, live on Sunday on Sky Sports 2 at 5.30pm.

The brash upstart has been selected ahead of the experienced but under-performing Brian Hoyer and Manziel can finally answer the critics who claim he can talk the talk but not walk the walk.

Manziel was the Browns' first round draft pick (22nd overall) after earning a reputation as an occasionally over-confident maverick quarterback with Texas A&M but he has had to wait until this weekend, after patience has finally run out with Hoyer, to build on a host of substitute appearances.

Hoyer has thrown for no touchdowns and seven interceptions in the last three weeks leading to his exclusion and opening the door for somewhat of an unknown quantity in Manziel.

And if the stakes needed raising ahead of the rookie quarterback's anticipated debut, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has stoked the fires with some disparaging remarks in Manziel’s direction – an added impetus in what will be an already tense afternoon.

Lewis may not be a fan of Manziel but his style may be ideal to trouble the Bengals – he is not the biggest quarterback but his method of moving and escaping in the pocket could be problematic. If he finds his feet quickly his performance will be must-watch television, few players can raise the heart-rate as Manziel does when he holds the football for too long, inviting pressure before releasing at the last split-second or embarks on dramatic, nervy runs that look likely to end at any moment but sometimes never do.

Storylines

While Manziel and the money sign will dominate fans’ attention, intriguing storylines will commence in other areas of the FirstEnergy Stadium pitch.

The Browns’ Josh Gordon will play his fourth match back after a 10-game ban amid whispers that a lack of effort is causing his uncharacteristically poor form. The wide receiver caught the ball just twice for 15 yards last week and his own coach hasn’t seem convinced by his commitment when the ball is hurtling towards him.

While Gordon has disputed such claims it is impossible to ignore the notion that he allegedly wanted Manziel rather than Hoyer throwing the ball to him in the past three weeks – finally he’ll get his wish and has no excuses to not deliver.

The Bengals have had no such problem with their receiver, AJ Green, of late. Riding a career-best wave of form coming into Sunday’s match, he registered 11 catches for a personal-best 224 yards during a 42-21 loss to Pittsburgh and made his highest ever tally of 12 catches against Houston last month.

But Green comes up against Joe Haden, the Browns cornerback, this weekend – an opponent he has historically struggled against. Green made just five catches for 30 yards in his last two games against Haden combined, both of which Green won. Most recently, the Browns limited him to three catches for 23 yards.

But the presence of Manziel for the first time could scupper any pre-match expectations as all rules could go out of the window when such a livewire, individual talent is let loose. Make sure you don’t miss out what could be the first chapter of the Manziel era.