Behind Enemy Lines: 5 questions with Bucs Wire

Previewing the Bucs and Colts in Week 14.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-6) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7) are set to face off in a Week 14 matchup on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Ahead of the matchup, we caught up with Bucs Wire managing editor Colin Liotta to get some information on the Bucs, who have enjoyed a nice run of winning three out of their last four games.

Here, we went Behind Enemy Lines with Bucs Wire:

Colts Wire: Has Jameis Winston shown enough to warrant another contract?

Colin Liotta: This is the question the Buccaneers have been struggling with all season. After they hired Bruce Arians in the offseason to help save Winston’s career, the team was hoping to have a little more clarity on the quarterback’s future by this point in the season. But, as has been the case with Winston throughout his career, he’s had strong games followed by complete duds. He leads the NFL with 20 interceptions, a career high, but is on pace to pass for over 4,800 yards. I wrote earlier this week that if you want to make the argument for bringing Winston back next year, look no further than former Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, who in his first year playing under Arians in 2013 threw a career-high 22 interceptions. In his second full season playing for Arians in 2015 (he was limited to just six games in 2014 due to injuries) Palmer threw for a career-high in both yards (4,671) and touchdowns (35) while only throwing 11 picks. He led the Cards to a 13-3 record and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. I think the team should give Winston at least one more year before cutting ties completely.

CW: What has been the biggest change since Bruce Arians took over as head coach?

CL: I’d say it’s the way he’s changed the culture. Arians took over the Cardinals in 2013 after they’d fallen on hard times following their Super Bowl appearance after the 2008 season. Arians helped restore the franchise to respectability and get them within one game of the Super Bowl in 2015. Tampa Bay needed a coach who could not only work with Winston but had a proven track record of success. Not only that, Arians brought his friend and former defensive coordinator with the Cardinals Todd Bowles with him to help rebuild this Bucs defense. There have been growing pains along the way this season, but given how well Tampa Bay has looked the past two weeks (both wins), I think we are beginning to see this team finally turn the corner.

CW: Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are incredible, but who else should the Colts keep an eye out for in Week 14?

CL: I really can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think O.J. Howard could have a monster game. (I’ll wait for you to stop laughing.) Howard has found himself in Arians’ doghouse this season due to his lackluster play, but in last week’s win over the Jaguars he had five receptions for 61 yards. Both he and wide receiver Breshad Perriman were the team’s leading receivers in Week 13. With all the attention Godwin and Evans will receive from Colts, it should provide plenty of opportunities for other receivers to get involved, including Howard.

CW: Who has impressed the most on the defensive side?

CL: Shaq Barrett. While rookie Devin White has garnered a lot of attention over the past month (and rightfully so), the Bucs expected the former LSU star to be the cornerstone of this young defense, and many experts even had him pegged as a favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year entering the season. Barrett has been a revelation for the Buccaneers, though, since coming to Tampa Bay on a one-year deal. He leads the league with 14.5 sacks and had a four-sack performance in Week 3’s loss to the New York Giants. The Bucs would be wise to bring him back on a long-term deal.

CW: Who wins and why?

CL: The Bucs have been one of the more frustrating teams to watch this season in that they have so much talent on both sides of the ball but somehow find ways to lose games. But, over the past two weeks the Bucs have been playing some of their best football of the season. It looks like things are finally starting to click. With a win, the Bucs will move to 6-7 and avoid their third-straight 5-11 season. I think they take advantage of a Colts team that’s been decimated by injuries. Bucs 34, Colts 20.