Twin targets back together
The Tampa Tribune, published 23 November 2015

The Bucs had their twin towers back for Sunday’s game. And WRs Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans quickly showed what having matching, 6-foot-5 receivers can mean for rookie QB Jameis Winston.

Evans caught four passes for 63 yards and a touchdown, Tampa Bay’s first of the game. Jackson, who missed the previous three games with a knee injury, Jackson caught four passes for 56 yards and a touchdown — Tampa Bay’s second of the game.

The early scoring receptions set the tone for a lopsided 45-17 victory. “We got Vincent Jackson back, and you see the score on the board,” Winston said. “That’s how much Vincent Jackson means to this team.”

The presence of the two big receivers seemed to tax the Eagles defense, which became the first since the Steelers on Sept. 28, 2014, to allow Jackson and Evans each to catch a touchdown pass in the same game.

But the Eagles struggled to cover the Bucs’ other targets, as well. Winston’s five TD passes were to different receivers: Evans (4 yards), Jackson (13), WR Russell Shepard (4), RB Charles Sims (14) and TE Cameron Brate (8). Winston credited the play calling of offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.

“We got everyone the ball,” Winston said. “That just shows you that coach Koetter doesn’t discriminate at all. He wants everyone to touch the ball, and he called a great game.”

Jameis Winston grew up wanting to play for the Eagles, so he enjoyed Sunday’s game at Lincoln Financial Field. But not just because of the five touchdown passes he threw. “I’m not going to cry, but this is definitely a dream come true for me to play here,” he said after the game. “I was even singing the fight song out there on the field. You better believe I was singing it. You better believe I was.”