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TB-NO Grades: Jameis Winston bounces back from debut

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Monday, Aug. 24, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Here are the top takeaways and the highest graded players from the New Orleans-Tampa Bay game:

New Orleans Saints

– Drew Brees (-3.1) graded under (-1.0) for just the fifth time in the last three seasons. His 68.4 accuracy percentage was his lowest since the Saints’ divisional playoff game back in 2013. The Buccaneers spent all game long dropping seven guys into coverage—they only blitzed once all game—and Brees was unable to pick them apart.

– LT Terron Armstead followed up a strong Week 1 showing (+2.8) with another good game against Tampa Bay. His +3.1 grade on Sunday was the fifth-best among OTs this week, and his +2.4 pass blocking grade was the second-highest.

– The entire starting secondary really struggled on Sunday. As a group, they compiled a -7.7 grade; CB Delvin Breaux led the group with a -1.4. Brandon Browner had a particularly rough game, as his -2.9 grade ranked him 79th among 84 cornerbacks in Week 2. Browner racked up three penalties against Tampa Bay, including a 40-yard pass interference penalty that set up the Bucs’ second touchdown.

Top performers:

LT Terron Armstead (+3.1)
DT Kevin Williams (+2.6)
WR Marques Colston (+1.6)
DE Akiem Hicks (+1.5)
DE Cameron Jordan (+1.3)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

– Jameis Winston bounced back from a disastrous week one debut (-9.3) with a positive game in New Orleans; his +3.1 overall grade this week ranked him seventh among all Week 2 QBs. Winston was wildly inaccurate in week one (his 55.2 percent accuracy percentage was dead last), but he improved upon that greatly in Week 2 with a 71.4 percent mark.

– LT Donovan Smith followed up a poor Week 1 performance (-3.1) with an even worse showing in week two. His -4.9 overall grade ranked him 54th among 62 OTs this week; he was particularly bad as a run blocker, where his -4.7 grade ranked 60th.

– CB Johnthan Banks had a great game on Sunday. His +2.8 overall grade was the second-highest among cornerbacks, and he played well both in coverage (+1.5) and against the run (+1.2). Banks was thrown at just twice, allowing only one catch, where he made a great play to keep Willie Snead out of the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt.

Top performers:

QB Jameis Winston (+3.1)
CB Johnathan Banks (+2.8)
FS Chris Conte (+2.2)
HB Charles Sims (+2.0)
DT Gerald McCoy (+1.6)
SS Bradley McDougald (+1.6)

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