Jameis Winston's run earns teammates' props

TAMPA -- Jameis Winston's remarkable 20-yard run to set up his game-winning touchdown pass in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 23-19 win over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday did more than decide the game's outcome. It earned the rookie quarterback even more respect in the locker room.

"He's the biggest competitor I've ever seen," center Joe Hawley said. "He loves this game, and you can tell every time he gets the ball in his hands, he'll do anything to win. It's wild. I've never seen anything like it."

The quarterback position is one of leadership by nature, and Winston is a very emotional, vocal player. But coach Lovie Smith says it's his performance that has won over teammates.

"I think if you deserve respect as a young player a veteran will give it to you," Smith said. "They don't go on what you come in saying. They watch closely and when you are on the football team you've been around each other for such a long period of time seeing guys in every imaginable situation. It does say a lot for a player like (Gosder Cherilus), for Demar Dotson, of course Logan Mankins. These are real men and Jameis has gotten a lot of compliments, but coming from these guys it really is a compliment."

"I think all of our guys play with passion and that's good, but I think they are following Jameis because he's a good football player and he's making plays. They'll follow you and especially if it's in that leadership role like the quarterback is. Yes, they will follow you and as a quarterback they'll do what you ask them to do. They want to protect you as much as anything."

Winston has also surprised the Bucs with his ability to make plays with his feet. He had his fifth rushing touchdown Sunday, tying a club record for quarterbacks with Steve Young and Sean King. It was Winston's third comeback in the fourth quarter or overtime this season.

"Yes, that's definitely maybe the final thing you would like to see from a young quarterback," Smith said. "It is how you finish up the game as a quarterback in general, and eventually you recognize the quarterback based on what they do at the end of the football game. He's on record now and it's just not throwing -- decision making of course and if you need to run the football. He's done it all. Then just his presence on the sideline for the defense, 'Hey, get us the ball back. Get us the ball back we're going to score.' And it gives everybody on the sideline hope that we can pull it out. Sixty minutes, whatever it'll take, we can pull it out now. That's what I saw on the sideline, we were down, but we are going to win this football game."

REPORT CARD VS. FALCONS

--PASSING OFFENSE: C. QB Jameis Winston passed for 227 yards and a touchdown Sunday. He had a pass deflect off Mike Evans hands that was intercepted. Overall, the protection was good and he made good decisions with the ball.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: A. With guard Ali Marpet returning to the lineup and tackle Demar Dotson making his first start, the Bucs rushed for 166 yards on 37 carries. Martin led the way with 95 yards and a touchdown.

--PASS DEFENSE: C. Playing without four of the defensive linemen who started Week 1, the Bucs sacked Matt Ryan three times. Ryan also threw a game-sealing pick to Lavonte David, and Tampa Bay did a decent job on Julio Jones, who had eight catches for 93 yards.

--RUN DEFENSE: A. The Bucs held Davonte Freemen to 47 yards on 14 carries, and the Falcons had only 64 yards on the ground all day. Credit linebacker Lavonte David, who had 11 tackles, two for loss.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: C. The Bucs did a good job containing Devin Hester, who hurt them a year ago. Kicker Connor Barth made his only field-goal attempt, and punter Jacob Schum helped with field position.

--COACHING: A. After a 1-3 start, the Bucs went 2-2 in the second quarter of the season and finished the third quarter 3-1. If they win their last four games, they could be headed to the playoffs.