There Is No Fixing Jameis Winston and That's a Good Thing

Jameis Winston has been the talk of the NFL for most of the season, and not always for good reason. “It’s not NFL Sunday if Jameis Doesn’t throw a pick” has become a budding joke as the once thought of franchise QB currently leads the league in interceptions with 22. Winston has had four 3+ interception games and has over 100 total turnovers since entering the league only five short seasons ago. Winston has been the most interesting player in the NFL to watch in 2019. In week one he had five interceptions in a horrible home opener against the 49ers. Four days later, he went into Carolina and put in a clinic for 208 yards and a touchdown, only missing on nine of his 25 passes to beat the Panthers.

The turnovers have been a constant with Jameis this season, as he’s only had four out of 13 games where he’s come out a game having thrown zero interceptions. He’s thrown five pick-sixes this season. Through those four games where Jameis doesn’t turn the ball over? The Buccaneers are just 2-2. On the other side of the turnovers, is what fans have referred to as “Good Jameis”. Good Jameis has also snowed itself plenty this season, including week three in Los Angeles against the reigning NFC champion rams, putting up 385 yards four touchdowns and an interception. The Buccaneers put up a franchise-record 55 points on the heads of last year’s NFC representatives in the super bowl. The biggest game of the season.

The Jekyll and Hyde act from Winston doesn’t stop there, as he is currently second in the league in both touchdowns (26) and passing yards, but first in interceptions by a mile. He’s posted nine 300-yard games. Broken the record for most touchdowns before the age of 26. Became the Buccaneers franchise record holder in passing yards. The talk around the NFL entering this season is if Arians could “fix” Jameis Winston and his turnovers. The quarterback whisperer would be his last hope to save his career in the midst of his contract year.

But there’s no fixing Jameis, and that’s a good thing.

Jameis Winston’s strength is outside the pocket and extending plays. Winston has had a top 5 passer rating on the move and outside the pocket each of the two years. His aggressive nature has both kept the Buccaneers in games this season and hurt them. Turnovers are a huge measuring stick to a quarterbacks success. But Winston’s style of play is more of a “gunslinger” such as Brett Favre who has commented on Winston’s play, saying “call plays that wouldn’t leave him susceptible to interceptions” and that he sees “huge upside” even with the interceptions. Live by the pass, die by the pass.

On Sunday’s matchup against the Colts, Jameis Winston was intercepted on his first pass attempt. On his next two drives he would lead the Buccaneers down the field to score, including a 61-yard bomb to Mike Evans that would give Tampa an early 14-10 lead. The Buccaneers would come back from 10-0, 24-14, AND 35-21 behind Winston’s career-high 456 passing yards and five total touchdowns. It was revealed after the game Winston had fractured his thumb before halftime.

This is not the first time Jameis has willed his team to a winning position this season. In week three against the Giants, he dropped a 45-yard dime to Evans to set up a would-be game-winning field goal with only seconds left. Matt Gay pushed it wide right. In week 8 against the Seahawks in Seattle, Winston helped put the Bucs up 21-10 early in the second quarter. The defense would go on to give up 24 points and leave the Bucs down 34-27 with just over four minutes to play. Jameis would again march the team down the field and tie it up with just 42 seconds of the game left.

The Buccaneers almost blew it in regulation. Seattle’s kicker missed, sending it to overtime. Seattle marched down the field and scored a touchdown.

Simply put, Jameis is who he is. A gunslinger who will continue to throw the ball no matter the stat sheet. He has time and time again to put his team in position to win. But the scoreboard hasn’t always reflected this. The Buccaneers sit at 6-7, most wins since their 10-6 2016 season. Tampa Bay has two Wide receivers with 1,000+ yards on the season and is the third highest-scoring team with a top-5 passing attack and offense. Can, and will, the Buccaneers live with the possibility of turnovers?