Buccaneers takeaways: Jameis Winston crumbles in overtime

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Chandler Catanzaro #7 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field after kicking the game winning field goal in overtime against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers won 26-23. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Chandler Catanzaro #7 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field after kicking the game winning field goal in overtime against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers won 26-23. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drops back in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drops back in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Winston: One step forward, two steps back

Jameis Winston wasn’t exceptional on Sunday. He turned the ball over three times and missed far too many throws downfield.

Still, Winston led a potential game-winning drive that set up Chandler Catanzaro to attempt a 40-yard field goal. If Catanzaro made the kick, all the mistakes Winston made would be forgotten.

Winston would have shown that he can lead a game-winning drive and with that, prove his doubters wrong. Unfortunately, Catanzaro shanked the kick and Winston would have to find a way to win it in overtime.

In his first drive, Winston threw a boneheaded interception to set the Browns up on Tampa Bay’s side of the field. Luckily, the defense stood tall and gave Winston a chance to redeem himself.

Again, Winston failed. He threw a pair of quick incompletions. The Bucs went three and out.

This time, it was the special teams unit that bailed Winston out. Anthony  Auclair poked the ball free, and the Bucs recovered just past midfield. Thanks to a short pass to Mike Evans and a Cleveland penalty, the Buccaneers would be in field goal range, in position to escape with a win.

Almost single-handedly, Winston would take the Bucs out of scoring range by taking two unnecessary sacks. For the third time, a teammate would pick him up as  Catanzaro nailed the unlikely kick to steal a win.

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