Browns-Lions gets high ratings as Manziel makes debut

Call it the Johnny Football factor.

The presence of Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel provided a boost in the ratings as an average of 2.82 million took in the Browns-Detroit Lions preseason game for the highest-rated and most-watched preseason game in NFL Network history.

The August 9 preseason game between the Browns and Lions, which featured Manziel’s first action as a professional, set a rating and viewership record for a preseason game on NFL Network.

The Browns/Lions game was 36 percent higher in total viewership than the 2007 Hall of Fame game between the Saints and Steelers, the previous high for a preseason game on NFL Network.

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun

Aaron Wilson
Aaron Wilson covers the NFL for National Football Post, his second stint at the Post. He has previously written for Pro Football Talk and FOX Sports-Scout. Entering his 13th year covering the Baltimore Ravens, he's a beat writer for The Baltimore Sun. Wilson has also covered the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.

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