Mike Evans made NFL history with an eight-yard reception to close out the Buccaneers’ Week 18 win, and in doing so was mobbed by his Tampa Bay teammates.
Evans’ final catch against the Saints helped him accumulate more than 1,000 yards receiving for the 11th straight season, tying the NFL record previously solely held by Jerry Rice until Sunday.
The post-route into a dive also helped Evans earn a $3million bonus by crossing the 1,000-yard mark this season.
Everyone inside Raymond James Stadium appeared to know the situation with under a minute to go – and Evans five yards short of losing both his streak and the lucrative bonus.
In a situation where Tampa Bay would typically call a quarterback kneel and watch the rest of the time tick off the scoreboard, Baker Mayfield threw the ball.
Evans was open and got beyond his history-making marker as soon as he turned upfield with the pigskin in hand. Then, he was mobbed by his teammates all the way to the sideline and beyond.
Mike Evans made NFL history with an eight-yard reception to close out the Buccaneers’ win
Evans’ final catch helped him accumulate more than 1,000 yards for the 11th straight season
Evans has spent his entire professional career in Tampa Bay, replicating the feat Rice accomplished as a member of the 49ers.
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Rice’s streak likely would have been 13 years reaching that total if he did not tear his ACL during Week 1 of the 1997 NFL season.
Now the door is open for Evans to make NFL history in the fall as he continues to be the top target for whoever is the Buccaneers quarterback.
Mayfield has found his NFL groove in Tampa Bay in large part because of a consistent target like Evans.
After Tampa Bay’s 27-19 win over New Orleans, it will host a Wild Card playoff game against either the Commanders, Vikings, or Lions.
The Buccaneers seeding depends on whether the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Seahawks to stay ahead of them in the standings. A loss would send the loser of Sunday night’s NFC North showdown to the West Coast.
