The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE WINSTON PUZZLE
QB has battled injury, inconsistency but is 3-1 vs. Falcons.
FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons are going to have to play the Buccaneers quarterback a little differently Monday night in Tampa Bay than they did less than three weeks ago in Atlanta.
Jameis Winston will make his third consecutive start since missing three games with a sprained throwing shoulder, and the Falcons aren’t taking much from their 34-20 win over the Bucs on Nov. 26 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium into this game given that Ryan Fitzpatrick played QB in that one.
Plus, Winston has proved to be a pain for the Falcons, going 3-1 against them, with a 104.3 passer rating. His overall career passer rating is 86.2, and he’s 14-24 as a starter against other NFL teams.
The Bucs (4-9) are 2-8 this season in games he’s started, losing six consecutive, to spark suggestions he’s regressed in his
third NFL season since he was drafted No. 1 overall out of Florida State.
The Falcons (8-5) aren’t buying that suggestion about a quarterback who has completed 64 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and two interceptions against them. He also ran for two touchdowns against the Falcons as a rookie.
“One of the better competitors in this game, that’s what he is,” defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel said. “Will fight for the last yard, and the last play. ... We understand that he’s athletic enough in the pocket to maneuver and keep plays alive, and we have to do a good job plastering in the back end.
“I would say they’re doing things that Jameis is comfortable with. … You see the screen game picked up a little bit. They’re running the ball a lot better than they were previously. … They’re not asking Jameis to do a lot but be consistent drive in and drive out.”
Some Falcons defenders recall the season opener more than a year ago, when Winston completed 23 of 32 passes for 281 yards, four touchdowns and an interception as the Bucs upset the Falcons 32-23 in the Georgia Dome.
And who can forget his 20-yard scramble on third-and-19 in the waning minutes two years ago in Tampa? Winston ran through multiple would-be tacklers, spinning out of a human pileup and dragging more tacklers several extra yards to pick up a first down that led to the game-winning touchdown in Tampa Bay.
“He ended up making some things come out,” Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen said. “If you hit him in the wrong spot, hit him too high, Jameis is a pretty strong guy. You can tell he’s a guy who works out all the time. ...
“If he doesn’t like what he sees or he sees a look that is a little different he’ll take his chances and keep the ball in his hands.”
The primary knock on Winston on the field is his inconsistency.
For example, early in the season, he completed 70 percent of his passes against the Vikings but threw three interceptions in a 34-17 loss in Minnesota. A week later, he completed 58 percent against the Giants, yet protected the ball while throwing three touchdowns and no picks in a victory.
The Bucs don’t dramatically change their attack with him at quarterback rather than Fitzpatrick. He may be a tad more effective and buying extra time to pass, and the 6-foot-4, 231-pounder is more athletic as a runner.
“I would say one thing that jumps out to me, I’ve got a lot of respect for the competitor that Winston is …” coach Dan Quinn said. “They still feature tall receivers, fast guys, good tight ends, good backs in lots of ways.
“He has an added element of just, I’m outside, I’m going, the off schedule-type of play as opposed to getting it out of your hand right now, I’m going to wait this one out, let (receivers) get open, take a hit and throw it. ... Those are the things that jump out. This is an excellent competitor.”
That word seems to be coming up when the Falcons talk about Winston.
‘If he doesn’t like what he sees or he sees a look that is a little different he’ll take his chances and keep the ball in his hands.’
Ricardo Allen Falcons free safety on Bucs QB Jameis Winston