Ryan Fitzpatrick should get starting nod in Week 4

While the “FitzMagic” gimmick may be over, Ryan Fitzpatrick deserves to keep the starting quarterback job for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at least for one more game.

During the first two weeks of the season, Ryan Fitzpatrick was a hero in Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers quarterback made history in his first two starts of 2018 and led the Bucs to a pair of wins. Despite his struggles against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Fitzpatrick should start in next week’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Amidst a disastrous first half on Monday Night Football, Fitzpatrick’s joy ride came to a screeching halt. The 14-year veteran reverted back to his journeyman ways and threw three interceptions and saw his team down 30-10 going into halftime.

All of the excitement for Tampa Bay’s season disappeared. The Steelers were rolling, and it seemed as if it was time to look towards Week 4.

Many began to clamor for Jameis Winston, and rightfully so. Fitzpatrick shut down an offense which was putting up crazy numbers. His mistakes put Tampa Bay in such a massive hole.

Then, Fitzpatrick came out of nowhere and brought the Bucs right back into the ball game. In the second half, Tampa Bay outscored Pittsburgh 17-0 and Fitzpatrick didn’t turn the ball over.

“FitzMagic” was back and on the verge of sending the Steelers into a tailspin.

All of the optimism he created in the second half was dashed late in the fourth quarter when the ball was in his hands to win the game.

With just over three minutes remaining in the game, the Bucs were down 30-27 and at their 20-yard line. Fitzpatrick needed to drive 80-yards to win the game or get into field goal range to tie the game up.

The Buccaneers gained zero yards.

Fitzpatrick threw the ball directly to a pair of Steelers defenders who somehow dropped the ball, and the Bucs would go three-and-out.

When Ben Roethlisberger sealed the game after escaping a sack and gaining a first down on the ensuing possession, Tampa Bay faithful turned on Fitzpatrick again.

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Although the veteran came up in clutch situations the previous two weeks, Fitzpatrick’s blunder on Monday Night Football meant more.

Call it recency bias, or the heat of the moment, but Fitzpatrick doesn’t deserve to lose the starting job because of his play on Monday night.

It’s silly to throw out his first two performances in the fourth quarter in the weeks prior. Against the Saints, Tampa Bay needed a first down to keep the ball away from Drew Brees, and Fitzpatrick scrambled for a first down.

In Week two, when the Eagles were on the verge of coming back, Fitzpatrick hit DeSean Jackson for a first down to seal the victory. Maybe the situation is different because the Bucs were in the lead, but Fitzpatrick closed the door on two very talented teams.

Remember, this is about next week. Every single football fan knows what Fitzpatrick is, a backup. He’s been on seven teams and has never held down a starting job for long, but he has been successful so far in Tampa Bay.

Fitzpatrick is what he is at this point. He can win a handful of games and find success when surrounded by talent, but if his supporting cast falters as it did on Monday night, he can’t overcome it.

Think about the first two weeks. The receivers caught everything, and the offensive line gave Fitzpatrick all the time in the world.

During Week 3, Pittsburgh got in his face, and his receivers made mistakes, and it caused Fitzpatrick to flop.

Still, throwing in Jameis Winston on a short week against one of the best defensive lines in football is a disaster waiting to happen. Give Fitzpatrick the nod next Sunday and see where he can get the Bucs one more win before the bye.

Think about it, the Bucs have a great chance of winning next week with Fitzpatrick. It took nearly everything to go wrong for Tampa Bay barely lose against the Steelers.

There’s no reason to rush Winston back on a short week and the bye week looming after it. Giving Winston two more weeks to prepare will be worth it in the long run.

Yes, Jameis Winston has been hard at work replicating practices, but missing out on the first four weeks with Todd Monken calling the plays and not having the same rapport with his receivers will impact him in his first few starts.

Following the bye week, Winston should get his job back. General manager Jason Licht and head coach Dirk Koetter need to see what they have in the former number one overall pick.

Next. Buccaneers come back down to earth against Steelers. dark

Fitzpatrick is only going to get the Buccaneers so far in the long term, but in the short term, he gives Tampa Bay a great chance to win next week.

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