Normally the first preseason game for each NFL team has a certain, predictable flow. The starters play a series or two, and then most fans go from watching intently to sporadically paying attention when the announcer exudes excitement. For fans in the stands, which are typically about 30 percent full, the noise level is generally equitable with a Houston Astros-Florida Marlins game played in front of tens of lower-bowl fans at Minute Maid Park.

The Cleveland Browns' game at Ford Field in Detroit did not follow that pattern. Even though the game itself was a major yawnfest--the Lions won 13-12 on a TD pass from Kellen Moore to Corey Fuller with just over a minute to go--there was palpable buzz throughout the stadium all evening.

Johnny Football was in town.

Mr. Manziel made his NFL debut, wearing No. 2 for the white-on-white visitors. The most celebrated rookie since Tim Tebow did not start, and only took a handful of snaps before halftime. Yet he was the overwhelming national story despite a rather uneventful showing in a decidedly uneventful contest.

The numbers were uninspiring but acceptable for a debut: 7-for-11 for 63 yards, 6 carries for 27 yards, no turnovers, no touchdowns generated. Compared to current starter Brian Hoyer they look outstanding, but that’s another story…

Manziel was the focus of attention for every single person in Ford Field last night. When he ran onto the field for pregame warmups, the sizeable contingent of Browns fans rose up and cheered as if they’d heard LeBron James was heading back to Cleveland and bringing Kevin Love with him. It was raucous and emotional.

Lions fans booed just as vociferously. It wasn’t the typical canned raspberries thrown at every opponent, either. This was genuine enmity towards Johnny F’ing Football, and it was louder than when Isa Abdul Quddus picked off Tyler Thigpen to seal the victory for the host Lions.

I sat in Section 116, right between the goalposts in the east end zone. My section was roughly 25 percent Cleveland fans, and at least 50 percent of those making the two-and-a-half hour trek were wearing some form of Manziel worship. Sure, there was the awesome vintage Brian Sipe jersey and a few Joe Haden and Josh Cribbs ones too, but you could almost smell the newness of all the Browns gear.

You could also sense the newness of the NFL game for Manziel himself. There is a big difference between what works against Sam Houston State or even Alabama and what will work in the big league. Manziel is learning this the hard way, though he seems hellbent on still singing “My Way” as he absorbs both the lessons and the hits.

On two different occasions, Manziel either didn’t see or blatantly ignored open receivers and opted to instead hoof it out. The fact that he was successful in doing so is almost a negative, because without seeing the downside of his errors he will be less likely to learn from them.

Still, it was exciting to watch him operate. He has the rare je ne se quoi of a Brett Favre or Steve Young, the ability to string out a doomed play and turn it into something positive and thrilling. His artful dodging proved quite necessary playing behind Cleveland’s truly awful second-team offensive line, and not one player he threw to is likely to ever catch more than 10 passes in any season.

Mechanically, Manziel was fine. Those who question his arm strength or ability to find throwing lanes are simply ignorant, as both are already NFL-caliber and superior to Hoyer, the man whose job he will be usurping any minute now.

He certainly drew the attention from the Lions defense. His first run, a delayed B-gap scamper after two quick pass reads failed to produce an option, changed the way the Lions linebackers played him the rest of the game. Whether by coaching order or simple recognition, they were more aware of containment responsibility and less apt to give him open lanes.

On another rep, impressive and speedy Detroit defensive end George Johnson blasted towards him unblocked, but Manziel calmly slid forward and kept his eyes down the field with a sort of threatening stagger. It was a play that could easily have been vintage Young or, perhaps more accurately analogous, Jeff Garcia.

The fans, well…they enjoyed the ride. From the Manzealots cheering his every play to the behemoth (appropriately donning a Shaun Rogers jersey) spilled over two seats in the row behind me chanting “Die Johnny” for the entire third quarter, they got their preseason money’s worth. For the most part, Lions fans were playfully and nervously accepting of all the Manziel mania.

Detroit was a great place for his debut. No fans can possibly empathize with Cleveland’s long-suffering faithful than the one team with an even more dubious NFL playoff history. Browns fans were rightly encouraged to have faith in their unconventional messiah, just as Barry Sanders once brought those same hopes and faith to the title wasteland that is Detroit. The Lions fans got to feel even better about their own starter, the hyper-talented but inconsistent Matthew Stafford, in the process.

Manziel was better than Hoyer. He was better than Detroit backup Dan Orlovsky, who probably should lose that role to Kellen Moore, who was--astonishingly--the best QB on the field. Johnny Football handled himself like a true professional on the sidelines and in the postgame. He was actively engaged in sideline powwows and had many a positive head slap for teammates coming off the field.

It’s just one game, and a meaningless one playing with and against mostly non-NFL players at that. Yet Manziel largely passed his first test by simply not failing as so many seemingly want him to do.

I still don’t know how his career, or even his rookie campaign, are going to turn out. Anyone who says they do is either delusional or selling something they don’t own. I’m encouraged by many things I saw, yet I also see just how far he still needs to travel down the road to being a franchise quarterback. It’s going to be a great trip to watch.