With only four games remaining in the 2024 regular season, Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans has been struggling, and it looked like he might not be able to reach 1,000 yards for an NFL-record 11th consecutive year. .
With three games remaining, the odds could swing back in Evans’ favor.
Yes, a lot can change in one monster game.
Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Let’s go back to Previous article on Mike Evans 1,000 Yard Season Watchpublished last Wednesday on PewterReport.com.
“No. 13 seems unlikely, but it would take just one monster performance from one guy to change those odds. He has one 100-yard game so far in 2024 (Carolina). It could be something like his 207-yard day against the Panthers in Week 17 of the 2022 season, but that still excludes Mike Evans. It’s difficult.”
Now, in that, The Bucks defeated the Chargers 40-17. Mike Evans had the big game he needed to turn the odds back in his favor. On the day, he caught nine of 11 targets for 159 yards and two touchdowns, reducing his 2024 receiving yard total from 590 to 749. 251 yards left to 1,000 yards You have to play 3 games.
This means Evans has needed an average of 83.7 yards per game over Tampa Bay’s last three games. The Bucs will play the Cowboys next week on Sunday Night Football, then close out the 2024 season with home games against the Panthers and Saints.
The work isn’t done yet, but suddenly Evans’ chances of extending his streak are looking much better. He has had two 100-yard performances in the last three weeks and has looked much healthier lately. The future Hall of Famer may be taking the leap at the perfect time for both his winning streak and the Bucs’ chances of winning four games as NFC South champions and making the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
Explosive play was key to Mike Evans’ monster day vs. Chargers
Bucks WR Mike Evans Photo courtesy of USA Today
Other than the fact that he missed three games with a hamstring injury, what kept Mike Evans from the type of production he, Bucs and Buccaneer fans have grown accustomed to was the ability to play downfield in Liam Cohen’s offense. It was the lack of shots.
It doesn’t really matter, as Cohen’s offense has been strong all year, among the best in the NFL in scoring production, yardage, and many other metrics.
However, under Cohen, the vertical component has decreased, which has reduced Evans’ total yards. But that didn’t matter Sunday, as Evans beat the Chargers’ defense with two explosive plays, both of which were touchdowns.
Evans started the game with catches of 7, 5, 12, 9, 8 and 3 yards. But his next catch eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the day, breaking for a 57-yard touchdown to put the Bucs ahead 20-17 early in the third quarter.
It was an out-of-structure play in which Baker Mayfield slipped out of the pocket, rolled to his left, and Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs slipped into space in front of him. With Mayfield buying time (and Wirfs’ presence), Evans was able to find space near the sideline. Mayfield punched him while fleeing, and the 31-year-old did the rest. One of Los Angeles’ defenders darted past him to the sideline, and he made the catch and scored the decisive touchdown before taking the ball well beyond the remaining distance.
Not long after, Evans again broke deep into the Chargers’ defense. This time, on a crucial 3rd-and-12, Mayfield stepped up to the pocket and delivered a beautiful ball to Evans for a 35-yard touchdown.
It was a great move on the route by Evans, and Mayfield put an absolute dime on his top target. Evans then had a 23-yard catch and is now within striking distance of the 1,000-yard mark, despite missing three games and recently hitting the 100-yard mark in a game for the first time this season.
Evans currently has 52 catches for 749 yards (14.4 average) and nine touchdowns. The rest of the season, he averaged 83.7 yards per game against the Cowboys, Panthers and Saints. intention He has reached 1,000 yards for 11 consecutive years, tying him with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the longest streak in NFL history.
