TAMPA, Fla. ? Needing a touchdown to win with 2:19 remaining in the game, Jameis Winston should've tried to eat the football or thrown it away on a screen pass that was intercepted and returned for a clinching score in the 49ers' 31-17 win over the Bucs Sunday.
It was Winston's 17th game with at least two interceptions since 2015, putting him ahead of Blake Bortles (16), Eli Manning (15), Philip Rivers (15) and Ben Roethlisberger (15). The Bucs are 3-14 in those games.
But coach Bruce Arians said Monday that was the only interception of the Winston three threw Sunday that he was responsible for.
"It's knowing where to throw the ball away," Arians said. "We ran the tight end across and we ran a screen, so no receivers on his side. So you got to throw it at his feet, you got to dirt (it) and hope you don't get another grounding call."
Arians said the interception Richard Sherman returned for a touchdown was not Winston's fault. On that play, Arians said running back Peyton Barber ran too deep of a hitch route.
"The turnovers, after looking at the film, the biggest problem with the touchdown for the interception was Peyton was three yards too deep on his route," Arians said. "Last night, I thought he was fine. But he was too deep. That ball was thrown perfectly. Mike missed his hot. Jameis executed the play perfectly. The other two guys let him down.
"Two of them he had nothing to do with. He throws a perfect ball (to Barber). (Another one) goes up in the air and they intercept it. Then the guy runs the route too deep and he threw it right where he was supposed to be after the guy failed to run the hot (route). Guys have to play better around him."
