When QB Jameis Winston steps onto the field at Caesars Superdome in Week 11, he'll be wearing a different colored jersey then the last time he played in New Orleans.
Winston spent four seasons with the Saints, playing a total of 21 games and earning 10 starts. The Saints went 6-4 in the 10 games he started over his time in New Orleans. Over those four years, Winston completed 200 of 334 passes for 2,367 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.
"The people in New Orleans, I really love them," Winston said. "They really helped that transitional period in my life. They filled it up with joy. My teammates, they encouraged me, they pushed me. And the city of New Orleans is one of the best cities to be a part of. So, I'm definitely excited. But my primary focus is going out there, executing one play at a time perfectly. And that's it."
When Winston reflects on his time with the Saints, he's grateful for the opportunity to be on an NFL team, but especially for the 2020 season with former head coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees.
"Sean Payton is one of the best play callers in the game," Winston said. "And again, watching the process of someone in front of me do it over, and over, and over again and just going out there and being who I am – take care of the football, great job carrying out my fakes. Just doing everything that's required to win."
From the year they all overlapped, Winston said he learned from how Brees approached playing the quarterback position.
Winston said one the biggest takeaways came in his film sequence and how he watched Brees prepare throughout the week. Winston studied how Brees prepared during a game week and how he was efficient in his preparation and with his schedule. Over time, Winston believes he picked up how to be more efficient in those areas. He's seen the benefits in his daily preparation and film study.
"It's what to do and what not to do," Winston said. "And when you see a quarterback that has done it at a high level for a long time under a system that he's been in for a long time, you just see the day in and day out detail and intentionality that is taken with every play."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the New Orleans Saints at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
A football during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Now, Winston is at the helm of the Browns offense as their starting quarterback. He has started two games, beginning in Week 8 when he led the Browns to a win over the Ravens, and will earn his third start when the Browns travel to New Orleans and face the Saints in Week 11.
In those two starts, Winston completed 53 of 87 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns. He's also thrown three interceptions – all coming in the Browns' Week 10 loss to the Chargers.
When Winston reviewed the film of his three interceptions, he said he assessed his decision making. As the play unfolds and different situations occur, Winston said if the decision is still the correct one, he's building on that element and eliminating the negative aspect of the play.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said with Winston's experience in the league, he understands the important of his role and how it plays into the success of the team. Ever since the Browns brought in Winston during the 2024 offseason, Stefanski said they have learned more about him both on and off the field.
"Jameis has played a lot of football in this league," Stefanski said. "He understands what it takes to win. He understands, obviously taking care of the ball is paramount to what we do. He also is a player that can make throws down the field, and you want to just make sure that you're always being smart, but you're not just being conservative for the sake of being conservative."
The Browns are coming off their Week 10 bye and looking to turn around their 2-7 record from the first nine games of the season.
Winston's success in leading the offense plays a large role in that, and he understands the challenges ahead of them for the final eight games of the season. Even so, he continues to hold the mindset of taking one play at a time.
"We cannot fall victim to what's behind us," Winston said. "We cannot press too far to what's ahead of us. We have to focus on one day, one play, executing it perfectly, one play at a time."
