In 2021, Tampa Bay cruised through the regular season en route to a division title. The art of ‘flopping’ may have a negative connotation associated with it, but it is undoubtedly a part of the Mike Evans package and became a huge factor in Tampa’s Super Bowl victory. Crediting a player with drawing penalties feels cheap, like somewhat of a cop out and it would be if Evans wasn’t so consistently good at doing it. Once again, Mike Evans found contact in his route and prompted a penalty. Mid second quarter, Tom Brady had a ball tipped up at the line of scrimmage that was intercepted by Tyrann Mathieu, but there was more yellow on the field. Tom Brady finished Super Bowl 55 with a flawless stat line, no fumbles and no interceptions, but this is also thanks to Mike Evans. The second infraction placed the ball at the one-yard line and set the Buccaneers up for an easy score before the half. Just two plays later Evans was again targeted, this time in the endzone, and again drew a pass interference penalty. Evans drew pass interference against Bashaud Breeland to vault the Buccaneers down the field. Bucs fans can confirm that Mike Evans is as good as any player in the National Football League at finding a way to draw contact when the ball is in the air and getting a flag thrown. Late in the first half, in an effort to put points on the board before the intermission, the Buccaneers did as they often do and launched a deep ball for Evans. Even still, it was Mike Evans not Gronkowski, who finished with the game's longest reception, and it was Mike Evans who took over the game on three separate occasions without touching the ball. Super Bowl 55 was dominated by Tampa’s defense and run game, with most of the headlining-highlights going to Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski. Evans left Lambeau with 51 yards receiving, the aforementioned touchdown, and his Buccaneers advancing to the franchise’s second Super Bowl. With the ball in his hands, he stood in the endzone finishing the game’s opening drive with a Tampa Bay score. In what was to that point, Mike Evans’ biggest career game, he had made an instant impact. Without a more storied setting possible, Evans was immediately up for the task, with a deep ball third down reception on Tampa’s opening drive which he used to later set up his own touchdown catch. Aaron Rodgers and Lambeau Field played host to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in the NFC Championship game. The Buccaneers continued to roll through the postseason gauntlet as they traveled to Green Bay. Not only was Tampa able to quiet the dome as they knocked the Saints out of the playoffs, but Mike Evans exited the game with his first career playoff touchdown, fittingly coming against none other than Marshon Lattimore.įirst TD of the game goes to Mike Evans! /apxOS圎yNk #nfl #NFLPlayoffs #NFLDivisional #NFLTwitter #GoBucs #Saints #TBvsNO- SidelineSportTalk January 18, 2021 The Buccaneers’ most difficult foe and the largest thorn in Evans’ side. Evans would have to square off or maybe more so square up, considering the nature of the conflict between the two, with New Orleans Saints’ cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Week two of the Buccaneers’ 2020 playoff run saw Tampa pitted against a familiar opponent and Tampa’s star receiver face to face with an all-time rival. He led all players with 119 yards on six catches with none bigger than a deep pass from Tom Brady with four minutes remaining in the game to set up Ryan Succop for a crucial lead extending field goal. Even with his status coming into the game regarded as somewhat uncertain, his first career playoff start did nothing but bring out the best in the Bucs receiver. He was coming off an injury suffered just one week prior during Tampa Bay’s week 17 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons where Evans had made NFL history, recording the most 1,000 yard receiving seasons to start a career. In 2020, Mike Evans played in his first career playoff game. When those moments have come calling, Mike Evans has answered. Three years of being in late-season contention leads to a lot of must-win games and ‘got to have it’ moments. Tampa has been to the playoffs three consecutive seasons now, the only three times in Evans’ long tenured Bucs career and Evans has had the NFL spotlight shine on his team as he has been given the chance to catch passes from the G.O.A.T. The last three years have rewritten the entire script of Mike Evans’ career. His elite play has accumulated superior stats without many wins. Drafted out of Texas A&M, the seventh overall selection in the 2014 NFL draft has spent the better portion of his football life in Tampa Bay without an opportunity to flash his clutch nature. © TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS.Saying Mike Evans is great is the equivalent of saying snow is white, but not all great players are clutch and not all clutch players are great.
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