Enter Jameis Winton into the duel of quarterbacking legends Tom Brady and Drew Brees. The Saints dialed up a trick play and it worked to perfection, with Winston throwing a 56-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith. Winston, the former Buccaneers starter, replaced Brees on the field and lined up at wide receiver. Tailback Alvin Kamara was in the backfield and took a direct snap. Kamara handed the ball to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders on an end-around. He flipped the ball to Winston, who collected himself and made an on-target throw to Smith, who was wide open deep in the middle of the field. Smith made the catch and coasted to the end zone.
Winston may have been elevated in the Saints’ gadget-play hierarchy with all-purpose standout Taysom Hill on the game-day inactive list because of a knee injury. The officials threw a flag on the play but announced there was no penalty against the Saints for an illegal formation. (Saints 13, Bucs 10, 8:08 left in the second quarter)