The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers vs Saints: Week 17 game-changing players

By Bailey Adams

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Pregame views prior to kick-off between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets on November 12, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Pregame views prior to kick-off between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets on November 12, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 11: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passes while under pressure against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 11: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers passes while under pressure against the New Orleans Saints in the second quarter of the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Jameis Winston

No matter your feelings about Jameis Winston coming back from his injury with nothing to play for, you have to feel pretty great about what he has done in recent weeks. Against the Falcons on Monday Night Football, Winston was lights out. He threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns while completing 77.1 percent of his passes, which was a career high. In week sixteen against the Panthers, he set a new career high by completing 77.8 percent of his passes. He is keeping the Bucs in games despite playing behind a makeshift offensive line.

The third-year quarterback is looking healthier and healthier each week. Week seventeen is his last chance to play a real football game for nine months. We all know how much the young quarterback loves playing football. Against the Saints, in front of the home fans, Winston is going to want a strong finish to the year. If he can play a clean game, it will go a long way for his confidence and the team’s heading into 2018.

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Though there shouldn’t be, there is a portion of the Buccaneer fan base that doesn’t believe Winston is the franchise quarterback that Tampa Bay needs. Some people want to move on from him and start all over again. That is downright absurd. He is 23 years old and still figuring things out. But him “figuring things out” is better than any quarterback in franchise history even at their best. Fans need to have patience. Winston is improving, but he will need the team around him to improve going into 2018. But for now, he will do his best to will Tampa Bay to victory in its final game of the year.

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