Buccaneers: Bucs to watch against the Packers in week 13

By Sean Eck | Dec 2, 2017

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks over the field during warm ups before the start of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on October 29, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks over the field during warm ups before the start of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on October 29, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Jameis Winston

The savior for the Buccaneers has returned from a three-week absence due to injury. Winston was supposed to have a massive coming out party this year and lead the Buccaneers to great things. Instead, he has led them to two wins on the season. Before leaving with the injury Winston was twentieth in passer rating and has thrown just ten touchdowns to six interceptions on the year.

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This is not the step forward people were looking for. This week and possibly for the rest of the season Winston will attempt to refine his game and try to help the Buccaneers organization the best he can.

For Winston, this could be an early defining moment in his career. How he handles the adversity of leading a team that has little to no shot of making the playoffs and has started to retool for next season already.

At the beginning of the season, it was almost a consensus that Winston would throw for over 4,000 yards for the third time in as many years. This would be helped by bolstering his passing weapons in DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard. Naturally, these numbers won’t come to fruition with only five games remaining in the season.

The most important thing for Winston this week and all the upcoming weeks is to finish the season healthy. The Buccaneers are missing their two best offensive linemen for the rest of the season as Ali MArpet, and Demar Dotson both went to the IR this week.

Winston will need to be able to evade the Packers pass rushers as a single dangerous tackle on the tundra at Lambeau could spell disaster for him and his future with the Buccaneers.