There’s no truth to the rumor that the Falcons still have nightmares of Jameis Winston dancing through and around them, nor throwing over their heads, but they’re going to have to police the Bucs quarterback differently Monday night in Tampa Bay than less than three weeks ago.
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. Ryan Fitzpatrick played QB in that one.
Plus, Winston has proved to be a pest 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.
It’s hard to balance that against the fact that the Bucs (4-9) are 2-8 this season in games he’s started, losing six straight, to spark suggestions that 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. The dude has completed 64 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and two interceptions against them. He also ran for two touchdowns against Atlanta as a rookie.
“One of the better competitors in this game,” 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.”
Some Falcons defenders surely recall the season opener last year, 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 ... 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 consistent inconsistency.
For examples, early in the season, he completed 70 percent of his passes against the Vikings, but threw three interceptions in a 34-17 loss. 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 at buying extra time to pass, and the 6-foot-4, 231-pounder is more athletic as a runner.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for the competitor that Winston is. ... ” coach Dan Quinn said. “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 comes up frequently when the Falcons talk about Winston.
Elsewhere, chatter about him is static laden, and that may drive conversation about his progress or lack thereof.
The NFL is investigating an allegation that Winston groped a female Uber driver March 13, 2016, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
He also was fined $12,154 by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct after he came off the sideline in the Bucs’ Nov. 5 loss at New Orleans to poke Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore in the back of the head. That sparked a fight between Lattimore and Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans, who wound up suspended for a game.
Winston wasn’t even an active player at the time; he left that game earlier after aggravating the shoulder he first injured in an Oct. 15 loss to Arizona.
And before the contest, he was filmed giving a bizarre “Eat the W” pre-game pep talk to teammates, prompting questionsand ridicule on social media.
Some have even questioned Winston’s relationship with Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter, who disputes that there is any problem.
Actually, there is no mountain of evidence that Winston has regressed as a quarterback, at least statistically, as his completion percentage (62.6) is at a career high after seasons of 58.3 and 60.8, and his rating of 89.7 is better than his first two seasons of 84.2 and 86.1.
“I get asked that almost every week,” Koetter said Thursday when quizzed about Winston’s progress. “The thing is, Jameis is continuing to improve and continuing to gain experience. Look at the other quarters in our (division) in Matt (Ryan), Cam Newton – the two previous MVPs, and Drew Brees.
“What do all of those three guys have over Jameis? They have experience ... I just think that the more Jameis plays, the better he’s going to get.”
Falcons players don’t bother to digest any of that, let alone Winston’s extracurricular activities.
“He’s definitely capable of beating us,” defensive end Vic Beasley said. “He’s a great player, but one thing we’ve got to do first and foremost is stop the run and not let the run to beat us. It’s just his competitive level.
“Fitzpatrick’s competitive, but I feel like (Winston) has more ability to extend plays, and he’s just a highly competitive guy. I’ve been playing against him a little bit over five years now in college and the league, and we understand that he’s a highly competitive guy.”
It’s not all about Winston.
He has a variety of weapons at his disposal, such as big wide receiver Mike Evans (6-5, 231), speedy wideout DeSean Jackson, and tight ends who lead the team in scoring receptions. Cameron Brate has 38 catches, a 12.9-yard average, and six touchdowns. Rookie O.J. Howard has 25 catches, a team-best 16.1-yard average and five scores.
Aside from a little extra screen game, the Bucs’ routes don’t seem to change much with Winston.
“It didn’t seem that way to me ...,” Quinn said. “What does show up is the effectiveness of the tight ends in the red zone no matter who’s at quarterback. They’ve both been very effective down in the end zone.”
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