Bucs Game Changer: Week 2

The Bucs finally broke their seven-game regular season losing streak against the Saints with a 20-10 victory on Sunday. The defense held New Orleans to just 10 points, while forcing five turnovers. There was also a fight that broke out at one point as Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans and Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore tussled once again. The skirmish between the two teams early in the fourth quarter seemed to pump a surge of energy into the Bucs.

But it was the late-game play of Tampa Bay cornerback Jamel Dean that really changed the game. Early in the fourth quarter in a game tied at 3-3, Dean came up with a momentum-shifting play when he made a spectacular backwards diving interception in the end zone. Dean made the contested catch of Jameis Winston’s deep ball, wrestling Saints rookie receiver Chris Olave for the pigskin.

The turnover lit a spark and led to the Bucs putting their first touchdown on the board on the ensuing drive. Dean talked about what he saw on the play on Pewter Report’s Touchback Tuesdays episode on the PewterReportTV YouTube channel.

“I saw that they were in a max protection set, ” Dean explained. “At that point I just got to my landmark and just started reading Jameis. Once he looked and basically made his decision and where he was going I just broke to the ball.”

Dean Gets Two Of Bucs’ Three INTs vs. Saints

Dean wasn’t done with just that pick though, as he intercepted Winston a second time on the very next drive. The fourth-year corner made a break on the ball, diving to secure the turnover before picking it up and returning it 24 yards down the field to give the Bucs excellent field position. Tampa Bay would have to settle for a field goal on that drive, but took a 13-3 lead on the turn of events.

On his second pick, Dean said he wasn’t going to let that one get away from him after missing a diving opportunity in the Cowboys game.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“With that one there, I was just playing coverage and the way the ball came off his hand it looked like it was an overthrown ball,” Dean said. “So, I was like I’ve got a great opportunity on this one since it’s coming in my area. I saw the ball getting low and going short, so I was like, ‘Oh I’ve got to dive for it.’”

The two-interception game was a first for Dean, who is in a contract year. Dean had two interceptions last year and has already matched that total with 15 games left in the season.

Named the starter out of camp, Dean has been stellar through his first two games of the season. He’s registered a 13.5 passer rating against him, per Pro Football Focus. That places him within the Top 5 of all NFL defensive backs.

Dean has been disruptive in the passing game with pass deflections and turnovers and has also been strong in the run game. While Evans may have given the Bucs some needed juice after his ejection, it was Dean who changed the game for the Bucs in their second straight win of the season. Not just once, but twice in a pivotal fourth quarter against the Saints.