Buccaneers' season hits a wall, but future remains bright
Chalk it up as a hard lesson on the NFL learning curve.
Jameis Winston will one day be regarded as a premier quarterback in the NFL, capable of putting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on his back and pushing them over the top.
But that day has yet to arrive.
In the biggest game of his young NFL career, Winston played with his usual fire and passion. But he also made a couple of crucial mistakes – two interceptions snagged by veteran safety Jairus Byrd -- during a 31-24 loss at New Orleans that will undoubtedly stick with him as hard-knocks lessons.
Winston, who matched the franchise record with his 27th TD pass of the season, has done better than many expected in taking a dramatic leap during his second year. And the same can be said of his Bucs. With that fast, aggressive, big-play defense dictating tone, it is quite the accomplishment that the Bucs (8-7) are actually in the position to matter in the playoff mix in late December.
I mean, this team was 6-10 last year, and there’s a first-year coach in Dirk Koetter. And Winston’s offense has been playing short-handed in the healthy body department for weeks.
It all leaves Winston and Co. to process the reality check of now.
Mathematically, the Bucs are still alive as a regular-season finale against Carolina looms. They can still back in to the playoffs by beating the defending NFC champs (possible) along with some confluence of events that includes getting help from elsewhere.
Still, the Bucs had their shot of crashing through the front gate. That’s the reality check. They are improved, competitive and even dangerous on any given day. But after beat the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead and stunning the battle-tested Seattle Seahawks, Winston and his Bucs could not survive the gantlet that was back-to-back road games at the Cowboys and Saints.
New Orleans is not Dallas, which entered Week 16 with a share of the NFL’s best record. But the Saints (7-8) still have Drew Brees, who was pretty much Mr. Grinch to the Bucs on Sunday.
With Brees triggering one of the league’s most prolific offenses, the challenge in the Superdome is typically to win an arms race – by whatever means necessary.
To be a legitimate contender, even a playoff team, these are the tough tests a team must pass.
The Bucs couldn’t measure up this time. Their impressive defense couldn’t contain the Saints, who took control of the game by scoring on five consecutive possessions. Winston was game, but early in the fourth quarter was doomed by his second interception.
These were growing pains. But keep an eye of this team. The Bucs are headed places. They made a remarkable run after starting 1-3. They just aren’t ready to go much further this season, even if they somehow sneak into the playoffs. Starting with Winston, the face of the franchise, they have picked up valuable experience and the lessons that will bode well in the future.
For the moment, though, the biggest lesson might be the disappointment of now.
Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.
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