As Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans showed Sunday, there’s nothing quite like having a player with game-changing ability.
The veteran receiver, with some help from quarterback Baker Mayfield, made sure the Bucs didn’t head into halftime with a deficit against the Detroit Lions in their NFC divisional playoff game Sunday.
Trailing 10-3 in the closing seconds of the first, Mayfield threw in the direction of Mike Evans on back-to-back plays. On the first play, Evans was wide-open up the left sideline and went out of bounds after a 27-yard gain.
And then Evans, one-on-one against Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton, made an amazing, falling catch that landed him at the Lions’ 2-yard line with 27 seconds left.
One play later, Mayfield hit Cade Otten for a 2-yard score to even the score at 10 apiece at halftime.
Mike Evans among the best receivers of his generation
Leading up to Sunday’s game, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked about the keys to slowing the Bucs’ passing game.
His response? “13. 13. 13. 13. 13.”
By the way, “13” is Mike Evans’ number. And yes, Campbell said it five times.
While Campbell and every other NFL head coach is quite aware of him, perhaps Evans needs to be recognized on much a larger scale as one of the best receivers of his generation.
Evans, 30, has caught double-digit TD passes in five different seasons — including his 13 in 2023. Plus, along with being a Super Bowl champion, he’s made five Pro Bowls and has been named a second-team All-Pro twice, this season and in 2016.
On Sunday, Evans provided another glimpse at his greatness on a national stage. And he’s a big reason why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came into the game with the ammunition to pull off the upset and potentially head to the NFC Championship Game.