Bucs C Jensen downplays argument with Winston

Tampa Bay Buccaneers center Ryan Jensen downplayed a heated exchange he had with quarterback Jameis Winston during the team's 28-14 setback to the New Orleans Saints. Winston was demonstrative with his displeasure toward Jensen while on the sideline after the latter was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct during the second quarter of Sunday's game at Raymond James Stadium. Jensen also was penalized for holding on the same possession which ultimately led to a punt. Jensen stood up to confront Winston, and the two shouted at one another face to face with the 6-foot-4, 319-pound offensive lineman twice pointing his finger at the 6-4, 231-pound quarterback. Guard Ali Marpet and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul joined offensive line coach George Warhop in separating the two before Winston walked away. "We're both competitors out there and coming off a bad play," the 27-year-old Jensen said. "As families, families fight. Me and Jameis are highly competitive guys, and we cleared the air and we're good." The Buccaneers (5-8) weren't good, however, as their 14-3 lead evaporated in a hurry. Winston finished 18 of 38 for 213 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while rushing five times for 47 yards. The 24-year-old has thrown for 2,154 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season for Tampa Bay, which visits the Baltimore Ravens (7-6) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET). Even if the Buccaneers win their remaining games at Baltimore, at Dallas and home against the Falcons, they would finish at .500 in the regular season. An 8-8 record in the NFC might be good enough to earn a wild-card playoff berth. The Vikings entered Monday night's game at Seattle with the projected final playoff spot. They are now 6-6-1 after the loss to the Seahawks. The Panthers (6-7-0), Eagles (6-7-0) and Washington (6-7-0) all lost Sunday. The Packers are next at 5-7-1 as the projected 10th seed in a six-team playoff. Tampa Bay, which has the NFL's No. 2-ranked offense and the league's best passing offense, has not won three straight games since December 2016. The offensive line, however, could not stop the Saints from sacking Winston four times and hitting him on 10 other occasions. "Today's Blame Monday and usually the quarterback and the O-line get the most blame when things don't go right,'' coach Dirk Koetter said. "We just didn't play very good on offense, period. We had three explosive plays in the first drive of the game and we only had three more the whole rest of the game." --WR Mike Evans finished the game Sunday with four catches for 86 yards. He now has 1,207 yard this season, the most by a Buccaneers player through the first 13 games in team history and the eighth-most in a single season in team history. --LB Adarius Taylor intercepted a pass from Saints QB Drew Brees at the New Orleans 48-yard line in the second quarter, retuning it nine yards to the New Orleans 39-yard line. It is the first career interception for Taylor. --QB Jameis Winston has 14 touchdown passes this season and 83 in his career. He has thrown two touchdowns in each of the past four games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in team history and matching a career best. --TE Matt Brate has six touchdown catches this season and 23 in his career. His career touchdown receptions total ties Bruce Hill for the eighth-most in franchise history. -- DE Carl Nassib strip-sacked New Orleans QB Drew Brees and DE Jason Pierre-Paul recovered the fumble. Nassib now has 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on the season.