LOS ANGELES _ Remember this game. File it away. It's the day that Jameis Winston proved he can overcome his own mistakes and lead the Bucs to a big win, on the road against an NFL heavyweight.
Winston stood toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Rams, trading haymakers with L.A. cool quarterback Jared Goff, another former No. 1 overall pick.
And despite taking a hammer to a four touchdown masterpiece with an egregious interception that was returned for a touchdown by Marcus Peters, he made big throws in the clutch down the stretch to preserve a 54-40 win over the Rams.
Winston helped the Bucs set a franchise record for points in a game by passing for 385 yards and four touchdowns.
Peters' pick six on a pass to Bobo Wilson cut the Bucs lead to 45-40 with 8:11 remaining in the game.
But Winston went to work, leading maybe the most important drive of his career with clutch throws on third down to set up Matt Gay's second field goal of the game.
The Bucs put the game away when defensive tackle and former Ram Ndamukong Suh returned a fumble forced by Shaq Barrett 37 yards for a touchdown with 1:06 remaining in the game.
The victory improved the Bucs to 2-2 while handing the Rams (3-1) their first loss.
It's one thing to blow an 18-point halftime lead to the Giants like the Bucs did last week, a game that you figured may leave a scar.
It's another to blow an 18-point lead to the Rams in the fourth quarter.
This time the Bucs, who also intercepted Goff three times Sunday, did just enough to hold on.
The Rams cut it to 45-34 with Goff's TD pass to Cooper Kupp with 9:12 remaining in the game.
For the second straight game, the Bucs offense came out firing, building a 21-0 lead and scoring 28 points in the first half.
Winston was 18 of 27 passing for 203 yards in the first half, including two touchdown passes to receiver Chris Godwin.
In last week's 32-31 loss to the Giants in which the Bucs blew an 18-point halftime lead, Mike Evans was the receiving hero. On Sunday against the Rams, it was Godwin, who had a hip injury and did not practice until Friday.
Godwin had nine catches for 125 yards and the two scores in the first half.
The Bucs defense gave up some plays early in the game, but for the most part, they did a decent job containing quarterback Jared Goff and he Rams' explosive offense.
Safety Jordan Whitehead and linebacker Lavonte David intercepted Goff in the first half. David's INT and 26-yard return gave the Bucs first and goal at the Los Angeles 9-yard line.
On the next play, Winston threw a quick screen to Godwin and he muscled his way to the pylon for a touchdown.
When Goff connected with tight end Gerald Everett on a 5-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 21-14, the Bucs answered.
Running back Ronald Jones, returning to his college field at the Los Angeles Coliseum, scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 28-14.
The first half ended with Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein making a 58-yard field goal. The Bucs had an answer and maybe deserved better. But Jones' long run to the Ram's 2-yard was negated by a pair of holding penalties.
Gay matched Zuerlein with a 58-yard field goal of his own and the Bucs lead was 31-20 with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Once again, linebacker Barrett made maybe the biggest play in the game. With the Rams driving, they faced fourth and 1 at the Tampa Bay 40 yard line. Rams coach Sean McVay decided to roll the dice and lost.
Linebacker Kevin Minter blitzed Goff and struck him as he threw. The pass was intercepted by Barrett, who entered the game leading the NFL with eight sacks.
The turnover led to Winston's third TD pass, a 14-yarder to tight end Cameron Brate.
Holding an 18-point lead was something the Bucs couldn't do against the Giants. And credit the Rams for continuing to tire out Tampa Bay's defense.
Goff took a lot of hits, but his 8-play, 75-yard drive was a beauty. He kept beating the Bucs' blitz and his 24-yard pass to Robert Woods set up Gurley's second TD run of the day.
