Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston makes for entertainment
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can still finish with a winning season and the talented and unpredictable Jameis Winston makes every game a must-watch.
Jameis Winston was the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. At times, he’s been simply sensational. On other occasions, he’s served up more scores to the other team than his own. In some ways, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ quarterback has picked up where he left off in his final year at Florida State.
The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner threw 40 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions in leading his team to a National Championship that year. One season later, the Seminoles’ signal-caller threw for 25 scores and was picked off 18 times.
In five NFL seasons, Winston has played in a total of 70 games and made 68 starts. There’s a 61.6 completion percentage, 19,201 passing yards, 118 scores through the air and 105 turnovers.
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This season, he’s already set career highs in yards (4,573), touchdown passes (30), interceptions (24) and turnovers (29). The five-year pro leads the league in each of those categories with the exception of touchdown passes, where he trails only Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson (33).
In the penultimate contest of the 2019 season, the opponent is the Houston Texans and the league’s 28th-ranked pass defense. In each of his last two games, Winston has thrown for over 450 yards and four scores apiece in the wins over the Colts and Lions. But he was picked off three times by Indianapolis (one returned for a touchdown) and served up his 24th interception of the season at Detroit.
Week 16, however, could be challenging as the Bucs look to build on their four-game winning streak. Bruce Arians’ club is already without wideout Mike Evans and is now down start receiver Chris Godwin. But the quarterback appears to have faith in the next men up:
"“We’re blessed to have elite NFL players like Mike and Chris, but (the other players) got here for a reason too,” said Winston to ESPN’s Jenna Laine. “And BP (Perriman) showed that last week with the performance that he had. All these other guys, they’re ready to step up. They’ve been waiting for this moment their entire lives, so they’re going to come out ready and excited and they’re going to do a great job.”"
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With wins over the Texans and visiting Falcons next Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can finish with a winning season in Arians’ first season on the sidelines. But what can be expected from Winston, whose immense talent is often overshadowed by his numerous miscues?
What is has shown is that these Bucs are capable of beating anyone — including themselves.