When Antoine Winfield Had That Winning Feeling
May 18th, 2021
Ready to throw deuce after big win.
You see that photo to the left. It may be the most iconic photo in Bucs history outside of Chucky and Tom Brady holding up a Vince Lombardi Trophy.
It’s then-rookie safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. telling Cheetah Hill of the Chiefs “peace out, m———-r” after the Bucs avenged a regular-season loss to the Chiefs and Cheetah by clobbering them in the Super Bowl.
Joe wouldn’t be surprised if that photo is framed on the walls of bars, and taped up on the bedroom walls of young boys and girls throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Winfield, speaking on “Brother from Another” with co-hosts Michael Holley and Michael Smith on Peacock, had a good hunch he might get to return the favor on Cheetah for his regular-season antics of throwing up a peace sign when flipping into the end zone on a touchdown against the Bucs.
When did Winfield think the Bucs would make a run at a Super Bowl title?
“I would say, after we beat New Orleans in the playoffs,” Winfield said of the moment he thought the Bucs could win it all. The Saints “were going to be a huge, tough competition because we lost to them twice during the regular season.
“I felt like that was a huge statement game. But I felt like if we could beat the Saints and get past them, I felt like we were going to win the Super Bowl. That’s probably when I felt it.”
Joe sort of felt the same way. Joe doubted the Bucs against the Saints. After that, though Joe wasn’t fully confident the Bucs would win in Green Bay, Joe knew the Bucs slapped the Packers around during the regular season. And the way the Bucs outplayed the Chiefs in the second half of their regular season game, Joe thought the Bucs had a great shot in the Super Bowl.
We all have to be real. Winfield made the play of the game against the slimy Saints. New Orleans looked like they were about to take a two-score lead late in the third quarter when Winfield forced that fumble. It totally turned the game.
Without that, Joe isn’t sure the Bucs ever play the Packers in the NFC title game.
Just 22 years old, Winfield will live forever in Bucs lore. Both for forcing the turnover of the season, and for dropping a deuce on Cheetah Hill.
Posterized!
May 18th, 2021 at 6:39 am
I honestly knew after we got Brady we had a realistic chance. Not just fake hope but an actual opportunity.
May 18th, 2021 at 6:48 am
Stud, it’s in his DNA…can put it on shelves for purchase lol
GoBucs!
May 18th, 2021 at 7:02 am
Name two better rookies for the Bucs. Wirfs and Winfield were great all season.
May 18th, 2021 at 7:13 am
Nothing else needs to be said. Amen!!
May 18th, 2021 at 7:23 am
It’s what he said while dropping the deuce on Cheetah Hill that got him in trouble, AMF!
May 18th, 2021 at 7:27 am
With Winfield, Lavonte, and Suh, there are leaders at every level of the defense.
May 18th, 2021 at 7:28 am
It is very cool when you can take a penalty knowing it won’t cost you…..Winfield acted like a 10 year pro….not a rookie on that deuce…
May 18th, 2021 at 7:41 am
When the Bucs beat the Saints in NO , I was absolutely positive they would beat Green Bay – zero doubt, mortal lock, take it to the bank.
I likened the situation to the Miracle on Ice: the Americans beat the Russia NYT people forget there was still a medal round to play against Finland. Did you really vanquish your nemesis just to lose to a bunch of Fins?
Same situation. Did you retire Drew Brees, beat the Saints in their house and humiliate a cocky 2nd string Jameis Winston to lose to a bunch of Cheese Heads?
May 18th, 2021 at 7:44 am
Winfield dropping that deuce on Hill was freaking epic! Oh so satisfying to punk the dude while the world was watching. Sweet revenge.
May 18th, 2021 at 8:00 am
Pair that with him and DW45 picking up the phone to call for help ; ….oh sweet revenge…..
May 18th, 2021 at 8:03 am
I thought the Bucs would beat TFTFKATR, but I did not think they’d beat NO, GB, or KC.
That’s what makes the Lombardi especially satisfying.
May 18th, 2021 at 8:07 am
I still think that pic needs to be turned into a statue at One Buc!
May 18th, 2021 at 8:09 am
I hope that we see that “Deuce” again flashed at the end of this year’s Super Bowl symbolizing TWO in SuperBowl Championships in a Row!!!
May 18th, 2021 at 8:11 am
I am with Joe on this one. I had the most doubt against New Orleans. Winfield’s play changed that New Orleans game. Big play in big time game. I felt more 50/50 for the Green Bay and KC games. Obviously as games got played out felt good during the games.
May 18th, 2021 at 8:24 am
Winfield should have been rookie of the year and Licht the executive of the year, but they got the the trophy that matters the most. Chase young with a big, whopping, 7.5 sacks on the year was a not a factor against us in the playoffs and was dominated by an above average tackle. Brandon Beane’s team lost to the team that we clobbered in the Superbowl , so how the hell does he get voted in ahead of Licht? No respect man.
May 18th, 2021 at 8:35 am
Winfield said the fine was worth it. From that look on his face, I believe him. GO BUCS!
May 18th, 2021 at 9:03 am
The DUECE was great. The fine uncalled for.
May 18th, 2021 at 9:09 am
The Saints were ahead and driving down the field when Winfield punched the football out of Jared Cook’s hands for the fumble. That play turned the game around for the Bucs. After the game, he wrote on Twitter: “Made some grown men cry last night and I don’t feel bad about it! That was for my pops back in ’09.”
May 18th, 2021 at 9:10 am
No one “knew” anything but hope was rampant. I was on the edge for every playoff game including the Super bowl until about the latter part of the third quarter.
May 18th, 2021 at 10:05 am
After we beat the aint’s I knew Gb had no chance with a suspect D.
Same for the KC.
LOL Skol nation is still pissed their GM didn’t take Winfield Jr.
May 18th, 2021 at 10:30 am
He’s worth a deuce!
Gene Simmons
May 18th, 2021 at 10:40 am
Up until 3 days before the SB I thought the Bucs were going to lose to KC.
Then something told me the Bucs were going to win it all.
Same thing happened before the old NFC champ game @ Philly. All week I thought the Bucs were going to lose until about 3 days before the game.
Go Bucs!!
May 18th, 2021 at 10:54 am
Number 3 to the 1 to the ✌️ AWJ be peace’n on you
That’s that dude
May 18th, 2021 at 10:58 am
How did we humiliate Jamies in that game? Oh yeah. That touchdown he threw.
May 18th, 2021 at 11:33 am
That NO punch play is definitely the 2nd biggest in Bucs history, and that picture will live as the most iconic. I already have a t-shirt of it. I just bought his jersey, the 2nd I’ve ever bought in my life, the 1st being John Lynch. I’ve always been a defense girl.
May 18th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
Ronde Barbers interception to seal the win in Philly, then “The Dagger” D Brooks interception to seal the SB win is 1-2, everything else follows those plays. Great play, timely play by Winfield, that changed the course of the season.
GO WORLD CHAMPION BUCS!!!! 28-0!!!!!
May 18th, 2021 at 1:02 pm
✌
May 19th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
This rookie has 2 or 3 of the top plays in Bucs history. Unbelievable.