TAMPA, Fla. — The Buccaneers clinched the NFC South for the fourth straight season and Mike Evans reached 1,000 receiving yards for the eleventh straight yr, tying Jerry Rice’s NFL document, as Tampa Bay defeated the New Orleans Saints 27-19 on Sunday.
Evans secured the milestone with a catch on the Bucs’ last play.
“It’s been laborious to do for 11 straight years, and to be tied with one of many — if not the best receiver of all time — it means lots to me and my household,” Evans stated. “NFC South champs, after which tied in historical past with Jerry Rice, in order that made it that a lot [sweeter].”
Evans then stated of his teammates: “I really like these guys to demise.”
Leading 20-19 with two minutes to go within the fourth quarter, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield seemed for Evans ultimately zone, a move that, if accomplished, would have gotten the franchise’s all-time main scorer to 1,000 yards. But on a second-and-2 from the New Orleans’ 11-yard line, Mayfield noticed Evans was double-covered and as an alternative flipped the ball to rookie Bucky Irving, who ran it in for a landing.
On one hand, it was, as Mayfield put it, “Win otherwise you’re on trip. And no one on this locker room desires to go on trip.”
But then again, Mayfield stated: “S—.’ We received the sport — nice — however now I’m going to be the man that did not get [Evans] 1,000 yards, so now Mike goes to need to play 11 extra years.
“But all jokes apart, crucial factor’s successful, however you’ve a bit second on the sideline there to appreciate that you simply’re that near it.”
Added Bucs coach Todd Bowles: “Everybody needed him to have it. … Obviously, Bucky, with expertise, most likely ought to have gone down, and we talked about it.”
Evans knew it, too, however did not complain. Twice the Bucs had been down by 10 factors Sunday. It was a scrappy ballgame. And it took him seven years earlier than he received to style the playoffs, which he’ll now attain for the fifth straight yr.
Plus his protégé, rookie wideout Jalen McMillan, scored the go-ahead landing with 10:18 to go on a 32-yard go route, a second that left Evans feeling proud. He had reached out to McMillan instantly after the Bucs chosen him within the third spherical of the NFL draft in April and despatched him a playbook instantly. And it was McMillan who needed to step up when Chris Godwin suffered a season-ending ankle damage in October.
The franchise’s longest-tenured participant and one of the vital philanthropic in staff historical past, Evans all the time put the staff above himself.
“He all the time has. That’s why you’re keen on him,” Mayfield stated. “That’s why we respect having him, we’re fortunate to have him. He’s underappreciated all through the media, the league and simply — he is one among one. He deserved that.”
On the following possession, it took eight performs for the protection to get off the sphere, nevertheless it compelled Spencer Rattler to throw incompletions on third-and-5 and fourth-and-5, which resulted in a turnover on downs with 36 seconds to go.
“I hoped to get a cease, as a result of I can not move up historical past,” Evans stated. “The protection — they knew the document was on the road, too. … I knew I used to be going to get it. I used to be getting it it doesn’t matter what. I knew we had been going to get this ball it doesn’t matter what.”
The second introduced the followers at Raymond James Stadium to their toes in anticipation, with the Bucs’ video boards flashing photos of individuals carrying No. 13 jerseys because the staff referred to as timeout.
Evans stated he checked out Bowles and offensive coordinator Liam Coen, they usually advised him: “Go on the market, we’re going to attempt to get you this document.”
Added Bowles: “It was awfully shut. It was a matter of what sort of move we had been going to throw. I did not need an interception. We talked about screens and slants, and knew they had been going to double him.”
All recreation, Saints defenders had been pointing to Evans, saying, “Stay on 13, exterior leverage, I’ve received your assist inside,” Evans stated. “They stored saying it time and again, so we knew that they had been conscious of the document. I’m simply glad I received it.”
From the Tampa Bay 32, the Bucs despatched Evans in movement to the slot, with a slant-flat combo, the place Sterling Shepard, who was lined up subsequent to him, and McMillan, who was on the surface, every ran slants towards man protection, with Evans trailing behind Shepard to get him open.
“We already knew what we had been going to do,” McMillan stated. “Mike was on the flat route, so I simply knew I needed to take my man inside and to have his eyes on me, and Shep did an incredible job of creating the defender go underneath. I imply, we knew we needed to get Mike that 1K, and we did.”
Evans caught the move simply in entrance of the Tampa Bay 35, pivoted and remained upright regardless of getting hit by cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and security Will Harris earlier than flipping onto his again on the 41. He shot up into the air and pumped his fist triumphantly. McMillan enveloped Evans’ helmet together with his arms, leaping out and down, with left sort out Tristan Wirfs and Shepard becoming a member of the celebration as Evans ran towards the sideline.
“Obviously, you noticed a stadium erupt, the entire sideline erupt — you possibly can inform how a lot folks care about him and what meaning for everyone round him,” Mayfield stated.
Added Bowles: “He earned it. He’s accomplished every little thing for this group and this staff …”
The video screens flashed, “Etched in historical past: M1KE EVANS,” with a large “1,000” in gold letters and a picture of Evans working via them, “1,000+ receiving yards” and “11 consecutive seasons” adopted by the date. It then confirmed his household celebrating, as Evans made his manner towards the sideline to share the second with followers.
He considered one among his idols, Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss, who was just lately identified with most cancers and who had issued him a private problem.
“He advised me once I broke his document to begin my profession — I broke his document initially of six straight (1,000 yard seasons) to begin my profession — he challenged me to do it yearly of my profession,” Evans stated. “So, that is all the time been at the back of my thoughts coming from one among my idols, a man I’ve skilled with, [and] a man who has helped me get to the place I’m. I’ve been praying for you huge bro, and I’m going to attempt to do what you challenged me to do.”
Evans missed three video games this season due to a hamstring damage, which coincided with the lack of Godwin because the staff fell to 4-6 after 4 straight losses heading into its Week 11 bye. With Evans returning in Week 12 towards the New York Giants, the Bucs received 5 out of their last six video games.
They in the end would have reached the playoffs even with a loss Sunday, because the Atlanta Falcons fell to the Carolina Panthers 44-38 in time beyond regulation to complete 8-9. With the Seattle Seahawks beating the Los Angeles Rams 30-25, the Bucs moved into the No. 3 seed and can host the No. 6 Washington Commanders (Tampa Bay opened as a 2.5-point favourite, per ESPN BET). The groups additionally met in Week 1, with the Bucs successful, 37-20.
Bowles stated the staff had been molded by adversity all through the season, which included beginning security Jordan Whitehead occurring the reserve/non-football damage listing after he was injured in a car accident Saturday morning on the way in which to the staff’s walkthrough. Because of accidents, the Bucs had been lacking three of their beginning defensive backs Sunday in Whitehead, All-Pro security Antoine Winfield Jr. and beginning cornerback Jamel Dean. They additionally had been with out high tight finish Cade Otton.
“[It] makes you stronger,” Bowles stated. “You cannot not fail or have some dangerous issues occur to you and achieve success. We need to undergo that a part of it. That makes you mentally robust, it makes you resilient and helps you develop. It helps you perceive the errors and issues you must do higher. We went via a bunch of that, as most groups try this make it do, nevertheless it helped us develop within the second half of the season and proper the issues they usually’re seeing the fruits of their labor.”
