A look back at Antoine Winfield Jr.s finest games across his career

Gabriel Kahaian

Antoine Winfield Jr.entered the 2023 NFL season with a clear vision.

While training in the offseason, he decided to manifest his success. It was a contract year. Winfield kept repeating what he wanted for the future, 'All-Pro, highest paid. All-Pro, highest paid'. He was not going to settle for less.

All that work paid off. By the end of the season, Winfield was named a first-team All-Pro and finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He also made history. After being franchise-tagged at the beginning of free agency, the Buccaneers went on to make him the highest-paid defensive back of all time.

Although injuries tampered with his 2024 campaign, Winfield remains the golden standard among safeties. As we look forward to 2025, let's go over some of the best games he has put on the field.

Here are Winfield's three most memorable performances across his career starting with No. 3.

3. January 7, 2024 | Week 18 2023 @ CAR | Tampa Bay 9, Carolina 0

Stat Line:5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 FF

The Bucs entered Bank of America Stadium with a lot on the line. They were in position to clinch the NFC South for the third-straight season. The team was able to turn around a 4-7 start, stringing together four-straight wins in December. However, a loss to New Orleans the previous week made this game do-or-die. A Bucs win would give them all the glory. If not, the winner of the Saints-Falcons matchup would be crowned division champs.

Tampa Bay struggled to find a rhythm on offense, but it did not matter the defense rose to the occasion. The Bucs held the Panthers under 200 yards, giving up zero points. It was an impressive showing, but the story might have ended very differently without Winfield.

The game started with five consecutive punts between the two teams. Then, the Panthers made a big splash play. Early in the second quarter, Bryce Young felt the pressure on third down and escaped to his left. He kept his eyes downfield and found a wide-open DJ Chark with an open path for a 43-yard score. There was nothing between him and the pylon. It seemed all but inevitable that Chark would get in the end zone.

Winfield was somehow able to catch up to meet Chark at the two-yard line. The Panthers receiver decided to dive to reach the ball across the goal line, a decision he would soon regret. Winfield dove with Chark, jarring the ball out. It landed in the end zone, where Jamel Dean would recover it, keeping Carolina scoreless. Winfield added a sack and a tackle for loss in the second half en route to protecting the NFC South title.

2. December 3, 2023 | Week 13 2023 vs. CAR | Tampa Bay 21, Carolina 18

Stat Line:8 tackles, 1 INT, 3 PDs, 1 sack, 2 TFLs,

What makes Winfield so dangerous is that he can impact the game in every way, at any time. He put it all on display vs. Carolina. The Bucs went into the game with a 4-7 record, searching for a spark to turn their season around. With Winfield's leadership, they got it done.

He brought Young down in the third quarter on third down as a well-disguised blitzer. Winfield also put the game to rest on the Panthers' final drive. With 2:21 remaining from fourth-and-one, Young took the snap down 21-18, looking to extend the drive. Pocket pressure caused the quarterback to roll to his right and fire downfield to Adam Thielen. Winfield ran across the field to the right sideline and stepped in front of the pass to pick it off, sealing the game in the process. He also finished the game with eight tackles, three passes defensed and two tackles for loss.

This win was the beginning of the Bucs' four-game win streak in December that helped turn the season around.

1. February 7, 2021 | Super Bowl LV vs. KC | Tampa Bay 31, Kansas City 9

Stat Line:6 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PDs

Winfield's rookie season was a memorable one. As the 45th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he started in all 16 games he appeared in. Winfield played a key role in the Bucs' four-game win streak to close out the regular season. The secondary carried that momentum into the playoffs.

In the Wild Card and Divisional Round, Winfield tallied six tackles in each game, adding two tackles for loss and a forced fumble during that stretch. He was unable to play in the NFC Championship game due to an ankle injury, but was ready for the Super Bowl. The main question heading into the game was whether Tampa Bay's defense could handle Kansas City's potent offense. The answer was a resounding yes.

The Bucs did not give up a single touchdown, dominating all levels. The defensive backs suffocated open space downfield as the front seven collapsed the pocket. Winfield picked off Patrick Mahomes in the third quarter on a deflection after great coverage from Mike Edwards. The rookie safety also had one of the game's most memorable moments. Late in the fourth quarter, he broke up a fourth-down pass intended for Tyreek Hill. Winfield threw up Hill's signature peace-sign celebration right in the receiver's face, putting a stamp on the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy.