Biggest Takeaways from Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Week 11 Win

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers put on their most impressive show of the 2015 season on Sunday, blasting the Philadelphia Eagles on the road 45-17, bringing their record to 5-5 on the season.

The Bucs dominated on both sides of the ball, pounding the ball on the ground at will, scoring red-zone touchdowns with relative ease and suffocating the Eagles' uptempo offense.

It was a statement win for a Bucs team that was nearly left for dead earlier this season at 1-3, with many calling for head coach Lovie Smith's head. But after Sunday's thorough beating of the Eagles, it looks like Smith has the Pewter Pirates moving in the right direction, as they're just one game out of a wild-card spot with six games remaining.

Let's take a look at what we learned about the surging Bucs after Sunday's win.

Doug Martin Earning a Big Payday This Offseason

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After his 235-yard outburst on Sunday, Doug Martin currently ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards, continuing to prove he's back to the form that earned him a Pro Bowl berth as a rookie in 2012.

After not picking up his fifth-year option this past offseason, head coach Lovie Smith acknowledged this week that getting Martin locked up is a priority, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times:

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Is Doug Martin a priority? I can say that yes, he definitely is. And I don't think that's a bad thing at all to go into the fifth year. I think it's benefited Doug as much as anything. He's in a great position now. I don't think Doug came into the season thinking, hey, he wasn't wanted around here. I think it was the complete opposite of that. And we have acknowledged everything he's done along the way, and we've put him in a position to have the type of year he's having right now. I think it's all good. And if I'm Doug Martin, I'm pretty happy I didn't sign the contract I had before, and I like the position I'm in now.

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Martin is on pace to rack up more than 1,800 total yards this season, spearheading one of the most productive offenses in Bucs history so far. He missed 15 games over the past two seasons with injuries, but that also means he's got more tread on his tires than he might if he had played all those games. He's still just 26, and the Bucs would be wise to lock him up after this year.

Jacquies Smith Is the Key to Consistent Pass Rush

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Despite missing the past two games with an ankle injury, Jacquies Smith entered Sunday's game against the Eagles leading the team in sacks.

Not only did he notch half a sack and a fumble recovery on the day, it was clear how much of a positive impact his presence had on the front four. The week prior, two of Tampa Bay's three sacks came from their linebackers, but the defensive line bagged all three this week, getting plenty of pressure on Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez.

Getting after the quarterback with just the front four is key to the success of the Tampa 2 defense. Sunday's performance made it clear that Smith is the linchpin when it comes to making that happen.

Jameis Winston Already Looks Like a Veteran

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He's just 21 years old, but Sunday's performance proved Jameis Winston is already showing veteran skills as a passer.

Winston saw the field well and distributed the ball effectively all game long, hitting five different receivers for touchdown passes and negotiating the pocket with poise. He made big throws in multiple third-down situations, and he was afraid neither to take what the defense was giving him nor to take shots down the field when he saw them available.

From his vocal leadership to his on-field prowess, it's already becoming clear that Winston was well worth this year's top overall draft pick, and he looks to be the franchise quarterback Bucs fans have longed for since the franchise's inception.

Offensive Line's Overacheiving Season Continues

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Tampa Bay's offensive line was expected to be one of the team's weakest links this season, but the unit has helped set the tone for an impressive season so far on that side of the ball.

Despite dealing with multiple injuries and two rookie starters, Tampa Bay just keeps getting the job done up front, both in pass protection and in clearing the road in the run game. The Bucs set a franchise record for rushing yards in a game on Sunday, and they continue to give Jameis Winston enough time to make plays down the field through the air.

With Demar Dotson now off the injured list and impressive rookie Ali Marpet potentially returning from an injury soon, this group could finish even stronger down the stretch as the Bucs make a push for a playoff spot.

Defensive Captains Make Statement with Big Plays

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After paying big money to extend the contracts of Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David the past two seasons, expectations were high that they could take their game to the next level and bring the entire defense with them.

But Tampa Bay's defensive captains have struggled to be consistent playmakers this season until Sunday's breakout performance.

David snagged two of Tampa Bay's three interceptions, stopping a late-first-half scoring attempt by the Eagles and putting an exclamation point on the win with a 20-yard touchdown in the game's final minutes. McCoy led the Bucs with 1.5 sacks, proving he still has what it takes to be a productive pass-rusher.

If the Bucs are going to make a playoff push over these last six weeks, they'll need McCoy and David playing at their best. Sunday's performance was an emphatic step in the right direction.