With Johnny Manziel set to start for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, his team is hoping that it made the best decision to choose him over Brian Hoyer as the starting quarterback.

In a statement released by the team on Tuesday, coach Mike Pettine said that making such decision was not about Hoyer nor Manziel but about the team.

"We are always going to make decisions that we feel are in the best interest of the team. Brian has done everything that has been asked of him and he has done so as a true professional. It's never just any one position when a unit is not functioning at the level you'd like. We are trying to get the offense to perform at a higher level. Johnny has worked very hard to earn this opportunity and it will be very important for every member of the offense to elevate their play for us to obtain our desired result," Pettine was quoted by USA Today as saying.

Manziel's first professional start to the game will be a huge challenge but he has expressed his gratitude for the opportunity given to him by the team.

"I'm very appreciative of the opportunity that Coach Pettine and the coaching staff have given me to be the starter on Sunday. I've tried to spend my entire season learning what it takes to become a pro and it's been great to watch Brian because he knows what it takes," Manziel said in an e-mailed statement to USA Today.

"I've prepared every week to be ready to help the team however possible and my focus has been on improving every day. I'm very excited to get out on the field with my teammates on Sunday and to have the opportunity to make the Dawg Pound proud," Manziel added.

Pettine also explained his decision, saying, "We're in a results business. We've lost two in a row. We all know what the numbers have been in the pass game. For us to be successful, they have to improve,'' he said, as quoted by USA Today.

ESPN discussed that the sudden change in the starting quarterback could be due to Hoyer's poor performance in some of the games, noting that he only made one touchdown drive in the last 29 series he participated in. "He played well to start the year and led the Browns to a 7-4 record but has struggled mightily the past five games," the report added.

Now that Manziel will start for the team, his teammates and the fans are hoping that he can make major changes to the team's performance as Pettine has planned.