Opinion: Jameis Winston shows he has learned from mistakes – but Saints will need more from QB

LANDOVER, Md. – Jameis Winston found himself in all-too-familiar territory early in the New Orleans Saints’ game Sunday at the Washington Football Team.

He had thrown an interception just minutes into the contest, then followed that up with a 72-yard touchdown pass only to fumble at midfield in the same quarter.

In those moments, the quarterback – notorious for keeping both teams in games due to his ability to rack up both touchdown passes and turnovers – seemingly had not changed despite spending last season learning at the feet of the now-retired Drew Brees and coach Sean Payton.

In years past, such a first quarter often signaled impending doom as Winston-led offenses careened off the tracks.

But amid the apparent disaster to start Sunday’s game, a different scenario played out. 

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“Next play,” Winston said. “That’s what’s going through my head. I’m not living on results. I’m focusing on decisions and I’m pushing forward.”

Pushing forward didn’t mean trying to play hero. Pushing forward for Winston meant focusing on the next call radioed in from his coach and trusting his teammates to make the plays around him. Winston reminded himself that he simply needed to facilitate.

From there, the Saints settled into a rhythm as the offense produced four touchdown drives, the defense recorded two turnovers and New Orleans punter Blake Gillikin repeatedly pinned Washington deep in its own territory. 

The end result: a 33-22 victory in which Winston displayed resiliency and finished with four touchdown passes and season highs in yards (279) and pass attempts (30). Now the Saints enter their bye with a 3-2 record and with the hope that the time off affords them a chance to regroup, receive some healthy reinforcements and mount a strong surge in the second quarter of the season.

The Saints also will be banking on the post-bye stretch featuring more growth from their quarterback, who remains in the process of harnessing his aggressive nature and developing greater discipline. 

Winston certainly seems as though he has taken steps toward maturity since signing with the Saints after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers replaced him with Tom Brady.

Winston, the first pick of the 2015 draft, described signing with the Saints as an opportunity to receive a Harvard education in NFL quarterbacking because of the gaudy resumes and extensive knowledge Payton and Brees had to offer. 

But growth doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t reach completion in even one calendar year.

Payton understands this, and that’s why he has taken a conservative approach with his new starting quarterback. In each of the first four games of the season, the coach relied heavily on the run while working to ensure Winston threw no more than 23 times.

Winston has understood a need for improved decision-making. To help keep himself in check, he has placed his trust in Payton’s guidance and strengths as a play-caller and the depth that New Orleans boasts on all three units. 

Sunday proved no different. 

The interception was ugly. He threw the ball right to Washington linebacker Cole Holcomb while trying to hit Taysom Hill over the middle. (Winston later said had he made a better throw and dropped the pass over the top of the defender, Hill likely would’ve scored a touchdown.)

The fumble also was avoidable. Winston hesitated, then tried to buy himself some time in a collapsing pocket, but he coughed it up while getting sacked.

But unlike in his younger years, when he would have tried to make up for the second gaffe with one big play, Winston said he drew comfort in the fact that he didn’t feel he had to single-handedly pull the Saints out of a hole. He had his part to do, he understood. But so, too, did everyone around him.

“This is just a great team,” Winston said. “Coach Payton was very effective with his play-calling. He called a heck of a game. And it was amazing with (punter) Blake Gillikin stepping each time we had to put the ball, him punting the ball inside the (5-yard line three times) was huge for us. We played efficient football, we made plays when we needed it. Turnovers are going to happen, but you don’t want a trickle-down effect.”

Payton said didn’t give Winston a motivational speech to help him regroup. 

“We didn’t have any ‘Kumbaya’ moment,” he said. “We’re just, we’re going. The clock’s going. There’s no sit-down, it’s just, ‘Let’s go.’ There’s no time for all of that.”

In a display of his growing confidence in Winston, Payton dialed up more pass plays than in previous weeks. With Washington frequently utilizing five-man defensive line alignments to take away the run, the Saints almost had no choice but to pass, and Winston made key throws. 

His 45-yard Hail Mary to Marquez Callaway to put the Saints up 20-13 at halftime represented a significant momentum shift. Then Winston took advantage of a blown coverage for a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Callaway from 12 yards out, and connected with Alvin Kamara on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 3:15 left in the game.

“I don’t want to say he didn’t care,” Kamara said of Winston’s response to the turnovers, “but he had to keep playing. It was early. Those two turnovers don’t define the outcome of the game. But us being able to persevere and keep going after those two turnovers says a lot about our offense.”

Winston, who through five games has 12 touchdown passes and three interceptions, has spoken often about his desire to earn the confidence of his coaches and teammates. Based on the remarks of his coach and teammates, the quarterback apparently is on his way. 

Class remains in session for the quarterback. But on Sunday, he showed signs that Payton’s lessons on discipline, trust and balance may be sinking in.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones.