BEREA, Ohio — The dilemma for Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer got a little stickier on Nov. 23 in Atlanta when quarterback Brian Hoyer threw three interceptions but somehow was at his best for the most important 44 seconds of the game.

Hoyer was nearly flawless in driving the Browns from the Cleveland 20-yard line to the Atlanta 19 to set up placekicker Billy Cundiff for the game-winning field goal in a 26-24 victory over the Falcons.

“I’ve got to play a lot better,” said Hoyer. “Especially going forward, if we really want to do something, I can’t play like that and I can’t even believe that we still won.”

The Browns are 7-4 and in four of those victories Hoyer engineered fourth-quarter comebacks. He is 10-4 as a starter for the Browns over two seasons and has a total of five fourth-quarter comebacks. He is also in the final weeks of the two-year contract he signed in May of 2013.

Farmer has to decide whether to make a long-term commitment to Hoyer or let Hoyer walk in free agency so Farmer’s signature pick from his first draft, Johnny Manziel, could take over.

Plenty of Browns fans wanted the switch to Manziel in Atlanta after Hoyer threw interceptions on consecutive possessions, but coach Mike Pettine predictably stuck with Hoyer and was rewarded for his loyalty. Manziel hasn’t even made a cameo appearance since the third game of the season.

On Monday, Pettine said he never considered switching to Manziel.

“If you’re going to be a big-time quarterback in this league, no matter what’s happened before, compartmentalize and move on to the next play,” Pettine said. “That speaks volumes of his mental toughness.”

Hoyer has thrown one touchdown pass and four interceptions over the last two games.

Meanwhile, the Browns are investigating reports of a fight that took place at an upscale apartment in downtown Cleveland on Friday night that involved Manziel.

“We are aware of the incident and are in the process of gathering additional information in order to gain a complete understanding of what occurred,” Farmer said in a statement. “Nonetheless, the time of the incident is concerning to us. We continually stress to all our players the importance of sound decision making in an effort to avoid putting themselves in these types of situations. We have addressed this appropriately with the player and will have no further comment at this time.”

According to the police report, the brawl was set off when a fan wanted to give Manziel a hug.

When police arrived, they described the scene as a “riot” with about 20 people and two security guards involved.

Diehard Browns fan Chris Gonos told Cleveland Scene that he set off the fight when he approached Manziel to give him a hug.

According to the police report, the 33-year-old Gonos told Manziel, “I’m the biggest Browns fan ever, I love you, I want to give you a hug.”

When he stepped toward Manziel to give him a hug, a member of Manziel’s crew punched Gonos in the face. By the time the fight was over, Gonos had a “swollen lip, right eye swollen, a red face,” according to the police report.

Gonos claimed that someone “smashed” Manziel in the face.

Manziel’s agent, Erik Burkhard, said in a statement that the incident took place after Manziel and his roommate had been out for dinner earlier in the night, but Farmer alluded to the 2:25 a.m. “time” on the team’s travel day.

“The time of the incident is concerning to us,” Farmer said.

MEDICAL WATCH: S Tashaun Gipson suffered a knee injury to his right MCL and could be out for the remainder of the regular season. His PCL might also have been damaged. … LB Karlos Dansby was inactive with a knee injury. He is hopeful of playing against the Bills next Sunday in Buffalo.

REPORT CARD VS. FALCONS

PASSING OFFENSE: C – Brian Hoyer threw three interceptions, but he came through in the clutch by mounting the game-winning drive resulting in a game-winning field goal on the final play. Hoyer might have been guilty of looking at Josh Gordon too often – 16 targets on a total of 40 passes. Gordon hadn’t played in a game since Aug. 18 and it showed.

RUNNING OFFENSE: B – The Browns are fine without running back Ben Tate. They waived Tate last Tuesday to leave rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell to man the backfield. Crowell, strong and powerful, rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns. West was shifty on his way to 62 yards on 14 carries. The Browns have played six games since losing Pro Bowl center Alex Mack to a broken leg and have adjusted well.

PASSING DEFENSE: B – Matt Ryan threw for 273 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but he also threw an interception. The Browns made adjustments at halftime and held Ryan to 112 yards passing in the second half. Maligned rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert defended on an incomplete third down pass intended for Devin Hester with 49 seconds left. The Falcons kicked a field goal for a 24-23 lead, but the breakup by Gilbert gave the Browns offense the chance they needed to win the game.

RUN DEFENSE: A – Leading tackler Karlos Dansby missed the game with a knee injury. Craig Robertson replaced him and led the Browns with nine tackles. After being embarrassed by Houston a week earlier the Browns held Atlanta to 63 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries – a 2.7-yard average. They played disciplined run defense the entire game.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B+ – Billy Cundiff kicked four field goals. He missed from 60 yards. The Browns kept dangerous Hester bottled up. Hester returned Cundiff’s shot at a 60-yard field goal try 75 yards, but that was not against the kick coverage unit.

COACHING: B – Defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil got his players to play hard despite a rash of injuries to the front seven. Head coach Mike Pettine showed patience by sticking with Hoyer after the quarterback threw three interceptions and it paid off in the end.