clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Jameis Winston inconsistent as Buccaneers trail Browns

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are struggling against the Cleveland Browns in what's been a pretty disappointing first half. The offensive line can't contain the Cleveland defensive line, the Bucs defensive line has struggled to get to the quarterback, special teams gave up a punt return touchdown and Jameis Winston threw an extra-ugly interception under pressure.

The Bucs looked better in the second quarter when they seemed to settle in, though. The defense actually stopped the Browns on three consecutive drives, special teams got a couple of good returns and the offense scored: a big pass to Vincent Jackson was capped off by a nice 19-yard Doug Martin run, featuring a key block by Austin Seferian-Jenkins. The offensive line as a whole looked better, too, even though the Browns kept throwing blitz after blitz at Winston, who finished the first half completing 6 of 14 passes for 90 yards and an interception.

After one half of mostly starter-on-starter competition, the Bucs trail 17-7 on the scoreboard, but actually lead 119 to 109 in total yards. 10 of the 17 points the Browns scored came off an interception and a punt return touchdown, and the defense held up well on all but one drive. On the other side, the Bucs were inconsistent at best -- Jameis Winston had a few big throws, and a few ill-advised or inaccurate ones as well.

The starters should get a little more time at the start of the second half before giving way to the backups.

Here's your second half open thread.