Crunch Time For The Mike Evans Streak
December 14th, 2024
To the best of Joe’s knowledge, Mike Evans didn’t look happy walking off the field last Sunday in Tampa and didn’t talk to reporters after the game.
Also, to the best of Joe’s knowledge, Evans didn’t chat with media this past week.
Odd.
But Joe is not making assumptions. There could be all kinds of reasons.
However, Joe wonders how Evans feels about getting only five targets Sunday against the Raiders while the Bucs offense struggled for long stretches. Evans’ streak of 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000 yards or more receiving hangs in the balance.
The future Hall of Fame receiver has 43 catches this season for 590 yards and 7 touchdowns. And there are only four games remaing on the schedule.
Extending Evans’ streak of 1,000-yard seasons to 11 years would tie the NFL record held by Jerry Rice.
It’s important to Evans.
It’s important to Baker Mayfield.
It’s important to fans.
And it’s important to the power hitters at One Buc Palace.
So what are the Bucs going to do about it? A low output game for Evans against the Chargers’ stout pass defense tomorrow would supremely hurt his chances of extending the streak.
Whatever happens against the Chargers, Evans’ targets total needs to hit 10. Joe believes. Evans’ 5 targets against the Raiders was a thoroughly unacceptable total for any game in which Evans plays four quarters.
Put the ball in the hands of your best players. It’s hard to go wrong doing that.
With Baker Mayfield at quarterback, the Bucs have a 6-4 record (including playoffs) when Evans gets 10 or more targets.
Joe really doesn’t want to be writing an obituary on the Evans streak later this month. That would be a sad, sad day.
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December 14th, 2024 at 10:42 pm
The Chargers do have 2 rookies at corner I believe – 5th rounders or something ? They’ve supposedly been excellent but Mikes Mike… the hand-fighting and that swim move he does to shorter corners, that gets him in position to catch the ball or get an interference call should give him an advantage.
The 1K is still possible but 102.5 yards per game over a 4 game stretch isn’t going to be easy
December 14th, 2024 at 10:54 pm
Mike’s numbers have been a concern to me from the first game this season.
He is being mis-used. It looks like the “hope” is that by throwing to everyone else, he will be open at some point.
Bake wanted him here, It’s past time to prove it.
December 14th, 2024 at 11:33 pm
Mike has not one person but Mike for the predicament. Catch just half of his drops this season, he’s at around 800 yards. I hope he gets it. I hope there isn’t one extra effort to get him the ball outside of normal when a game’s outcome is still in doubt. Catch the dang ball, Mike, problem solved.
December 14th, 2024 at 11:45 pm
Delusional for fans to think Evans is a HOF lock. He’s a very good player but nothing in his game is truly great except being consistently very good year over year over year with his 1000 yard streak. If he can beat the greatest WR ever in a major stat, then he becomes an automatic HOF lock. He becomes part of the NFL story. No wonder Evans doesn’t look happy.
December 14th, 2024 at 11:51 pm
Wandering, wrong. A good coach and a good QB should always be making extra effort to give their best offensive threat the ball. A WR1 usually gets 8 to 10 targets a game. 5 targets for Evans against a soft defense while chasing history is a real insult. I don’t know if it’s the coaches or Mayfield who is more to blame.
December 15th, 2024 at 12:02 am
He looks plenty healthy after seeing him hurdle that guy last game. If he stays healthy I think he does it cause he has a chance here for a couple 150+ games if they scheme him the ball. Dallas has no Diggs, Saints have no Lattimore. Wish we were playing Panthers last (its the Saints right?) cause if things are settled by that last game maybe Canales would do him a favour.
BradyGronk…hes a lock for HoF even if the streak ends. I get what you are saying but the consistency has made him great. Great to the point that he is already top 10 in WR TDs in league history! Strong finish and couple more good years he will be top 15 all time in yards receiving. Has a SB ring, is a stud in the community. You wanna argue first ballot… fine but he’s a lock to get in at some point.
December 15th, 2024 at 1:38 am
BradyGronk, he’s already 9th all time in td receptions. he’s outpacing hopkins in yards and is higher in both than Davante Adams. yes, he’s already a hall of famer. his knock that he’s been consistently better than his peers over a career?
he has a chance to end his career as top 5 in td and 10 in yards. the question will be how fast will he get in at this point.
December 15th, 2024 at 1:39 am
His TDs will get Mike in more than anything else. Threat is gravy
December 15th, 2024 at 1:39 am
The rest is gravy
December 15th, 2024 at 3:25 am
Get the win. Who cares about this stupid stat. He’s not going to make it. Don’t force crap and throw two picks and lose the game.
December 15th, 2024 at 6:42 am
baker is better when’s it’s do or die,,, Mike will get his targets today ,, then it’s up to the big man,,,,, but over all I agree w the sentiment , the Win comes first ,,, The last few weeks look at some rediculous yards receivers have got in a team loss , Chase , Juedy to name just 2,,, our wins seem to be tied to the running game
December 15th, 2024 at 7:30 am
BradyGronk, wrong.
December 15th, 2024 at 7:48 am
If Mike took better care of his hammys and and didn’t drop the easy one’s this wouldn’t be an issue. Coen plays to Baker’s strengths, which isn’t the long ball.
December 15th, 2024 at 8:53 am
I hope he gets it, too. I just also hope the streak doesn’t become a distraction and the team (Baker/Coen) begin trying to force the ball to Mike. Winning games and the playoff push are the priority- not Mike’s streak.
December 15th, 2024 at 8:53 am
Very surprised so many are concerned with numbers. No one wants their streak to end, but if it means the Bucs win who cares? There have been many games where Justin Jefferson, CD Lamb plus many others are taken out of games through game script or defensive game planning. If Evans is getting doubled then someone else is open. Win the game first then worry about numbers.
December 15th, 2024 at 9:18 am
He needed to have 150 against a horrible team last week.
It is over unfortunately.
Liam Refuses to take a couple shots down for each game to ME13. The whole offense is inside of 20 yards, it works great, but you would think it would easily set up some deep shots.
Because of that, plus the injury, he’s not getting his thousand yards this season and that’s a real shame.
Winning the division will make up for it….. a little bit
December 15th, 2024 at 9:22 am
The streak is a nice cherry on top of the cake, that’s all. Let’s not forget to bake the cake first.
December 15th, 2024 at 9:32 am
Consider me a tad ignorant, but the streak only counts for regular-season games? If he doesn’t get his 1k at end of reg season, but the Bucs play in 2-3 postseason games, and THEN he gets to 1k, does it “count?”
Just curious. If so, the Bucs need to just keep winning playoff games to get him his record. Simple, and motivation to keep winning!
December 15th, 2024 at 9:34 am
Just one monster game would do it/or help a lot towards it. What’s the most yards Mike has had in a single game in his career? Go BUCS!
December 15th, 2024 at 9:38 am
It will be the Dallas game. His career single game record. Will be at Dallas in Jerry’s house. Go BUCS
December 15th, 2024 at 10:40 am
This might sound weird but I think Mike’s record is in jeopardy is because the team is playing well. We’re not losing in the 4th so there’s no comeback happening where we’re desperately driving down the field. That when Mike’s the most dangerous. That plus the fact that he’s the first thing our opposition plans for when preparing for us.
Never say never! I hope he gets it. It certainly is exciting to watch him play! Go Bucs!!
December 15th, 2024 at 12:44 pm
Saskbucs nailed it. Prob not first ballot, but he will be in the HOF. One of the most consistently great WRs to ever play the game.
And I agree with Joe, Evans should never has less than 8 – 10 targets in a game.