The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers insist they don't have a quarterback controversy.Jameis Winston practiced Wednesday for the first time since serving a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy Chris Godwin Jersey , returning to a team that's ridden Ryan Fitzpatrick's arm to a surprising 2-1 start."I'm excited to be back," a beaming Winston said. "I'm so happy we had some success. ... We've got to keep it up."Fitzpatrick, a 35-year-old journeyman who's played for seven teams over 14 seasons, has thrown for 1,230 yards and 11 touchdowns while becoming the first player in league history to top 400 yards passing in three consecutive games."When a guy throws for 400 yards three games in a row, you gotta love that," Winston said, adding that he's happy for Fitzpatrick, as well as proud of the entire team for how it performed in his absence."Me being back, nothing's changing. I'm happy that when we have a win, I can dap guys up and celebrate with them," he added. "That's the part you miss, that team bonding."Winston was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft and started 45 of 48 games the past three seasons.Coach Dirk Koetter remained mum on who will start Sunday's game at Chicago.He has informed both Winston and Fitzpatrick, but has no intentions of letting the Bears know what's planned.Winston took a stab at diffusing the conversation before retreating."I'm here to assist the best way I possibly can," the fourth-year pro when asked what his reaction be to not being the starter against the Bears. "My passion for this team, my love for this team goes beyond whether I'm out there throwing the football for this team or not."Without hesitation, he quickly added: "It's my first day back. Let me enjoy that before I (answer) any more questions about that."Fitzpatrick is expected to meet with the media on Thursday."It's about the team's success. I'm not a selfish player, it's about our team," Winston said. "We're out here doing big things, and we've got to continue doing that."The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner practiced with the Bucs for the first time since the preseason. He was forbidden to be at the team's training facility or have contact with coaches of teammates during the suspension.Tuesday was the first day Winston was allowed to get back to work. He arrived at the complex at about 5:30 a.m., even though it was an off day for teammates following Monday night's 30-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.Winston recruited a couple of coaches and more than 20 players, including former NFL receiver Louis Murphy, to join him for workouts designed to help the quarterback remain sharp and in condition during the layoff."I did my best impersonation of what it would be like being here," Winston said. "I got guys from the Orlando area, Fort Lauderdale, Lakeland. ... We just went to work. I didn't want the guys in this building to be working hard and I wasn't out there doing my thing."Teammates were excited to have Winston back in the locker room and on the practice field. They insist they won't take sides in the quarterback situation, stressing that they're confident they can with Winston or Fitzpatrick."Jameis handled it like a pro. What else would you expect?" Koetter said."He came back prepared. That's no surprise Vernon Hargreaves Jersey ," Koetter added. "It was great to have him back. Jameis is a favorite of everyone around here, so great to have his energy back in the building, his smile back in the building. I know he's happy to be here. We're happy to have him." Week 15 ended with the ninth loss of the year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they fell to the Baltimore Ravens and now stand at 5-9 on the season.Here are just five reasons things went down the way they did.THE PLAY: Win-MagicOn a sloppy day with freezing rain coming down on the players all game long, the pace was set from the very beginning. It would be more of a tractor pull than a sprint race.Five straight series ended with punts before the Baltimore Ravens fumbled the ball to the Bucs leading to the games first score. However, following a botched snap to hold exchange, the Ravens scored their own first touchdown of the game and took a one point lead late in the second quarter.With 3:20 remaining in the first half, Tampa Bay faced third-and-twenty and it seemed all but assured Baltimore would be getting the ball back with their lead intact and time to add to it.But then, this happened.After the run, catch and penalty, the Bucs gained 74-yards in all and ended up on the Ravens’ 11-yard line.As we’ve seen all-to-often in 2018, the team was unable to turn the red zone visit into a touchdown, and instead settled for three points giving the Bucs a 9-7 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the half.THE PLAY: A defense by any other nameEarlier in the year, Buccaneers head coach wondered allowed just how much firing defensive coordinator Mike Smith would really change.Well, in some big areas, it’s changed quite a bit. But in one equally big area, it hasn’t seemed to have changed at all. Under two minutes, whether it be late in the first half or in the game itself, this Tampa Bay defense just seems to go soft.With a two point lead and less than two minutes on the clock, the Bucs should have gone into the locker room with their lead. After all, Baltimore’s offense lacks big play ability.However, after gains of seven, fourteen, nine and twenty-eight, they were in the red zone with half a minute remaining and one timeout remaining in just four plays.The drive ended in a field goal and a Baltimore Ravens 10-9 lead heading into the locker rooms. This possession set the stage for the Ravens to come out in the second half looking to control the ball and the clock.THE PLAY: Energy not wasted on the youthFootball is a hard game. It’s even harder when you’re a defender on the field for extended periods of time.By the time the Ravens finished their second possession of the second-half, they had held the ball for over fourteen minutes and scored ten points. Tampa Bay on the other hand, held the ball for just over four minutes and put up three.To say the Buccaneers defense was exhausted would be an understatement.During their longest stretch on the field, Tampa Bay’s defensive unit surrendered four first-downs with three coming on third downs.The biggest play of the drive was eight yards. However Donovan Smith Jersey , the biggest play of the drive came on a four-yard loss.On third-and-seven, the Buccaneers defense had their first shot at getting off the field maintaining a five-point deficit.Early in the down, Carl Nassib gets his mitts on Baltimore’s rookie quarterback, Lamar Jackson, but is unable to pull him down.Credit to Nassib for recovering and later chasing down the Heisman Trophy winner eleven-yards later, but the damage had been done.No third down opportunity would come with this much yardage attached to it for the remainder of the possession.A dead ball foul on running back Kenneth Dixon backed the offense up fifteen yards following this run, but the damage had been done. First down converted, and Tampa Bay’s defenders would spend another five and a half minutes on the field before finally getting the chance to rest.THE PLAY: Complications in BaltimoreWith less than fourteen minutes left in the game, the Ravens had held the ball for fourteen minutes of the second-half and scored twice. But all was not lost.Tampa Bay was down just eight points and Jameis Winston had been playing some of the best football of his career since returning to the starting lineup.But then....Winston and star receiver Mike Evans were simply not on the same page here. While the pass falls short of Evans, he hasn’t even begun or appeared to be ready to get into any kind of route break when the ball is delivered.Perhaps seeing Eric Weddle on top and being aware of Cyrus Jones underneath, Evans simply didn’t expect the ball to be thrown his way.It’s hard to see what Winston saw. At a glance, it looks like Winston simply wanted to throw the ball to Evans.Coming out of the slot, Chris Godwin is in single coverage against safety Tony Jefferson. Tight end Cameron Brate has solid box-out position on linebacker C.J. Mosely over the middle. Running back Peyton Barber has nobody within ten yards of him on the far left side.Winston wasn’t under pressure. The game wasn’t on the line in the sense he needed to get a big play right away.We’ve seen a much improved quarterback over the past few weeks, but this play was a bad play, and it came at perhaps the worst time it could have for Week 15.THE PLAY: Final shotTampa Bay’s defense did their job. Despite coming onto the field on the wrong side of the fifty-yard line, the Bucs got the ball back without any more points added to the Ravens’ lead.Now, it was on Winston and the offense to make good on the second chance. We know how this ends.The Bucs offense drove from their own 38-yard line to the Baltimore 30-yard line and faced third-and-one.Now, I didn’t tweet this, so I have no evidence. But I remember thinking aloud, if this is four down territory with less than eight minutes to go, then I pass on third. Look for a screen or a quick slant, perhaps a deep shot if single high is presented.Adam Humphries was the name I was hoping for. Peyton Barber was the name we got. And it came with a three-yard loss.All of this set up the final play for the Buccaneers offense. One shot to extend the drive and keep their hopes of winning alive.Not a good throw. Not a good play design either. Having Godwin and Barber so close together right at the marker is way too much congestion.I don’t know if someone ran the wrong route. Godwin broke in before breaking back out to the spot Winston threw the ball. Perhaps Barber was supposed to be flatter and give more space to the outside for Winston to fit the ball.Whatever the cause, the ball was to far inside and it was easily defended by the Ravens secondary.Jackson and the Baltimore offense regained possession at the spot, and would hold the ball for the remainder of the game.