Redskins game could be the time for Bucs’ WinstonMARTIN FENNELLY Published: October 22, 2015 
Bucs rookie quarterback Jameis Winston could be dared by Washington to make some plays to win this game.This feels like a Jameis game.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a chance to go to 3-3, big doings at this point, travel to 2-4 Washington.And if I’m Washington, I’m traveling in the general direction of Bucs running back Doug Martin, his team’s hottest offensive hand, with consecutive 100-yard games. I’m loading the box. I’m double daring Jameis to beat me. And if he doesn’t, expect a lot of other defenses to try to do the same thing.This feels like a Jameis game, one the Bucs rookie quarterback might have to go out and win.He says he’d be up for it.“Absolutely,” Winston said. “Anything that we’re asked to do … it’s football. At the end of the day, it’s like, give me your best against our best. So we’re going to have to compete no matter what. Any challenge that’s offered to me, I’m going to take it.”But he added, ”I’m really nobody in this league yet. So they don’t have to worry about me. I have great teammates that do a great job and we have a great team and that’s what I think the biggest thing about this league is. We have complete team wins.”But it’s no coincidence that Winston’s two best games as a Buc were in the team’s wins, at New Orleans and last game, against Jacksonville (a career-high 122.5 QB rating).The Bucs have already matched their win total from last season. One of the 2014 wins was a 27-7 trouncing of Washington up there.It shouldn’t have come as a shock. Since the Bucs’ last playoff season, 2007, Tampa Bay is 39-73. Washington is 40-72, even with a playoff year thrown in. On many levels, Washington is in worse shape. Its owner is worse, its quarterback situation is worse (The RGIII fiasco) and its nickname’s future is most definitely worse.Yes, there’s a Gruden up there, Jon’s brother Jay, the head coach, but there’s also an Allen, as in Bruce, the same Bruce Allen who helped send Jon Gruden’s Bucs spinning into the night.But Washington also employs former Bucs coach Joe Barry, a very good man who has helped the Washington defense, currently ranked eighth in the league in yards allowed (the Bucs D is No. 5, so take these rankings for what they’re worth). Joe B. wasn’t born yesterday. If I’m him, I’m loading up on Martin and making Jameis beat me, especially on third down (the Bucs are 26th in the NFL at converting those).“The closest we saw to that so far is the Houston game,” Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said. “Houston sold out to stop the run. We threw it more on first and second down. ... That day is definitely coming, Jameis has to be ready.“I don’t have an opinion on it. We have no choice. He has to be ready.”Winston has thrown seven touchdowns through five games. He has thrown seven interceptions through five games. He is near the bottom of the league with a 77.6 passer rating, just ahead of Washington’s Kirk Cousins and — wait for it — Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning.By the way, Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota is ahead of Jameis in QB rating and completion percentage. Mariota has thrown for more touchdowns and fewer interceptions. Mariota also had an awful fumble Sunday against Miami, was crushed by the pass rush and Tennessee is only 1-4.And now back to Jameis’ magical mystery learning curve, five games in ...“I can say instantly: You can’t turn the ball over,” Winston said. “That’s just the ultimate lesson.”And then there are those team wins ...“You can’t have a game where your offense plays really good and your defense and special teams don’t do well and win the game. You can’t have a game where your defense plays outstanding and your offense and special teams don’t do well. You’re setting yourself up for failure. So I think this game is just a complete team game, whereas college, one person, basically, can take over the game. I think that’s like every level, other than basketball. In basketball, one person can probably take over a game at the end of it, though.”Winston still might have to hoop it up Sunday. That’s what I’d make him do if I was Washington.Team game or no, rookie or no, “nobody” or no, it’s not too early to become a somebody.