Mike Evans Is 85 Yards Shy Of 1,000; Bucs Took Yards Away From Him
December 29th, 2024
Yeah, Joe told all the interns at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters to attach the wall padding early in today’s fourth quarter.
The game was over. The Bucs led Carolina 41-14 early and had the ball in Panthers territory. It was a 3rd-and-7 play at Carolina’s 21 yard line.
Baker Mayfield completed a six-yard throw to Mike Evans, but Jadeveon Clowney jumped offsides. Todd Bowles accepted the penalty, which took six yards away from Mike Evans’ total — and then Jalen McMillan scored a touchdown on the next play.
That ended Evans’ great day.
Man, Joe sure hopes those six yards aren’t what cost Evans his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season.
After a beastly 8 catches for 97 yards today and two touchdowns in the blowout win against the Panthers, Evans now has 915 yards this season on 65 catches with 11 TDs.
With 85 yards next Sunday, Evans can tie Jerry Rice’s all-time streak of 11 seasons of 1,000 yards or more.
Joe’s prayer is that Evans can do it early in the game without absorbing cheap shots by the slimy Saints.
And man, if those six yards cost him the record or expose him to a debilitating hit, Joe will not be in a forgiving mood.
December 29th, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Oh yeah, the slimy saints will cheap shot him
December 29th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
there was no reason not to put Evans out there for yards after Baker came out, Trask could of thrown him a few receptions. Shame!
December 29th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
Joe look at Evan’s drops this year and he would already have his 1000 yards. But that is just football and things happen. With you I hope Mike gets his yards in the 1st half then sit him out.
December 29th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
He will have the record by the half, but they have to beat NO, which always gives us a hard time…LFG
December 29th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
Just adding another brick in the “wtf is Todd thinking” brick wall. When can the Bucs move on from him? Please!!!
December 29th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Bakerfan Says:
December 29th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
Joe look at Evan’s drops this year and he would already have his 1000 yards.
___________
Touche
December 29th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
I think they should have given him some easy yards on that last drive. Quick strike and out of bounds. But 85 yards is doable if the Saints don’t try to cheap shot him.
December 29th, 2024 at 4:44 pm
I thought they played off coverage on him all day, could have had some quick slants. That is one thing that doesn’t seem to happen much this year.
December 29th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Fire Todd right now.
He also accepted the offsides penalty that took 5 yards away from Mike. We were up by 40 at the time. If Mike comes up short by 5, you can thank Todd 500 Bowles for being absolutely clueless
December 29th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Hopefully Todd’s Defense can keep the sorry azz aints off the field long enough for MIK3
December 29th, 2024 at 4:46 pm
I also noticed that on that touchdown Evan’s job was to screen so the McMillan can get the catch
December 29th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
If he is short, a few yards than he needs to blame himself for not tucking in his shirt. Should have been 20+ yards after the catch but the defender dragged him down by his shirt tail.. tuck it in Mike!
December 29th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
Oh Bucs fandom will definitely be ready to have Bowles run out of town if Mike misses a 1,000 by 6 yards, more so than they already are. I do feel Bowles just misses the small things as a head coach. I really wish he would be just the head coach and not DC also. Very few coaches can handle that task efficiently of being HC and coordinator on either side of the ball. Just look the DCs in the last couple of years that moved around and how good some have been. Look no further than Minnesota. Oh and maybe this defense wouldn’t be a punching bags for teams this year.
December 29th, 2024 at 4:48 pm
So keeping players in to try to win a game that might unwinnable is bad, but keeping a player in to make a record is good. Got it.
December 29th, 2024 at 4:50 pm
With respect, this is silly. You take the 3rd down. The bigger question is why Mike wasn’t allowed to make a catch during trask time. Canales is on the other sideline, and knows how important the number for Mike is. My guess is Mike wants baker to be the one throwing the pass that makes 1000….
December 29th, 2024 at 4:50 pm
No freakin excuse for Bowles not telling Coen to get 13 the ball in garbage time…he has no f…n clue about player motivation…NONE! JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HIS EGREGIOUS STUPIDITY!!!!
December 29th, 2024 at 4:58 pm
Even without Lattimore, and as bad as they are this season, the Saints are one of the last teams o want to play with Evans needing 85+ more yards in 1 game.
Notoriously cheap, dirty team will being going after him and historically he doesn’t usually ever go off against them in terms of yardage.
December 29th, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Shouldn’t have accepted the offsides sometimes I think Bowles just doesn’t get it
December 29th, 2024 at 5:00 pm
I fully expected a couple more passes to take the pressure off next week. I also had him for 100 and TD today so that stung from a gambling perspective. No Irving TD also hurt.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Also y didn’t they put him in for 1 or 2 more balls in garbage time ?
December 29th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
Yeah and if Mike gets injured in garbage time everyone would say otherwise.
Bucs did the right thing.
Healthy Mike in ‘24 & ‘25 is more important than a record.
He’s already 1stB HOF
December 29th, 2024 at 5:05 pm
Bakerfan. Mike has always dropped some balls but caught balls others would not have caught.
He dropped a ton last year. This year, stats have him dropping 3 balls in 12 games before today. They had him with 57 catches on 60 catchable balls.
That is a strong percentage. He caught 8 of 9 targets today. If you want to count that as his 4th drop, so be it.
Do you really think that Baker would have all the TD passes without Mike’s 11 TDs this year? He has been the best redzone wide receiver since joining the league in 2014.
I would rather you celebrate his year this year than negatively remember last years struggles with dropping the ball.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:05 pm
Everyone wants him in for garbage time but if he got hurt in garbage time the same people would be losing their minds calling Todd for having him in. ALL of us would have been happy if told before the game that Mike would have 97 yards today. They’ll do everything they can to get it done next week.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:07 pm
Every receiver has drops… it is part of the game.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:07 pm
I know you guys are gonna beat me up for this.
Bring it I guess.
Personal records mean nothing. This is a team sport and no one player is more important than the team.
I think ME13 is the greatest receiver our team has ever had.
But, WIN THE GAME! All the other ancillary records and accolades are trivial.
WIN! THE! GAME! GO BUCS!
December 29th, 2024 at 5:09 pm
I have no problem with the coaches taking Mike, Baker, and others out. Wouldn’t want them hurt for the Saints and further. Mike was out some games and is still close in getting his yards.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Knothead71… you are not wrong. ultimately it is a team game and the win is what matters… But we still root for the individual players to accomplish their goals.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
Bowles is managing Mike the right way. We should be playing these games to get to the playoffs not get Mike 1000 yds. Mike needs rest if we make a push in the playoffs, especially coming off a year full of injuries.
We would be fools to think Bowes and the offensive coaching team doesn’t have a plan to get Mike to 1000 yrs. With Coen at the helm of that ship I’m sure he will make it happen. Game plan should be similar to this one. Win early, rest the squad.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:16 pm
So you .. Joe…takes down my take on the futility of Bowles to motivate and ve nothing more than an average coach, at best. Why would you take it down ..it was all factual..no BS! He’s terrible in the one score games, terrible in pass defense with a bottom five ranking in ints, terrible in game mgt…on and on it can go. Cmon Joe you are better than that
December 29th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
Mike has dropped plenty of passes this season Joe easy on the if he doesnt get it by six yards nonsense but I’m pretty sure Mike gets his record tying 1000 yard season go bucs.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:25 pm
Ridiculous. Taking the penalty was the right thing to do. End of story.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:25 pm
Bowles made the smart call. Evans would agree.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:26 pm
Joe doesn’t take down posts unless there’s obvious stuff like profanities. It’s the Kmart software that gets triggered by any number of things
December 29th, 2024 at 5:26 pm
Evans and Baker and Coen got this….chill, its coming
December 29th, 2024 at 5:31 pm
Can yall PLEASE ask him why he did that with the game already out of reach? He just seems out of touch with reality.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:41 pm
There is so much hate on this site for Bowles. So “fans” are upset that Bowles accepted the offsides call and had 3rd and 2. Next play touchdown. Wasn’t that textbook coaching? Wasn’t that the coach doing his job? I guess not. The coach should have been focused on ME13 getting six yards and then kicking a field goal or going for it on 4th and 1 (which would have been hammered as piling on)?
I just watched Saquon say all the right things about getting 2000 yards this season. Yeah, that’s right. It’s about the win. It’s about scoring TDs. Records be damned. Get it next week or don’t.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
N.O. is packing it in? they sucked today
can’t believe the bucs didnt pad evans up by 20plus in the 3rd
wtf c’mon the only thing almost as good as south title is evans 1000, lfg!!!!
December 29th, 2024 at 5:45 pm
up by 20 plus 3 scores… trask shouldve thrown a 80 yd bomb!!! c’mon!!! this is HUGE!! best WR is bucs history help him out!!
December 29th, 2024 at 5:47 pm
shoulda got mike another couple of garbage time catches…
20-25 yards more, so next week he’s looking as around 60 yards needed…
so no one is sweating the situation
December 29th, 2024 at 5:48 pm
if he gets left with like 978 yards…
like rojo did a few years back – it’s just wrong on the coaches
December 29th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
word………throw the man a fuggin’ bomb !!
December 29th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
They need to get him that 1000, it’s an enormus accomplishment. The fact that they took him out in the fourth is insane given that. And i have a feeling if Evans doesn’t get his 1000, he’s gonna look back at this game and remember it come contract time.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:51 pm
He will get the 85 yards. In addition to that Bowles should get the axe at the end of the season. IDC if we make the playoffs unless we win it all he needs to go. The Bucs and the Glazers cannot let Liam Coen walk out the door. Teams are gonna want to interview him what better way of shutting that door then by promoting him and making him HC. He’s young gushing with talent and would be more suited to lead this team in the future. Sorry Bowles but your time is nearing its end and Coens time to lead is coming. They cannot let him leave and Bowles is not the man for the job. His defense is getting torched, Coens offense is winning us games. Fire Bowles promote Coen to HC Larry Foote to DC. That’s what needs to happen if we want to sustain success and a winning culture.
December 29th, 2024 at 5:59 pm
I thought Mike had the 1st down and the refs spotted the ball wrong. Of course, Coach doesn’t know when to use a challenge flag so whatever.
December 29th, 2024 at 6:12 pm
Leave Mike in the game next week until
1) Bucs have a huge lead or the game is over
AND
2) He has over a 1,000 yards.
Make sure he gets at least 50-60 yards in the first half as he seems to always get less in the second half. He should get at least 10-12 targets — even if half are 5-10 yards.
December 29th, 2024 at 6:21 pm
I hope the Bucs come out with an early game plan to feed Evans the ball on the first two possessions and get him a good chunk of the 85 he needs.
December 29th, 2024 at 6:22 pm
I m sure if the team/coaches/players wanted to make things easy for Evans to get the 1.000 they could have helped him today. They could have thrown two or three more easy passes for a few more yards since the game was over by mid 3rd Q instead of not even attempt to throw to him for like 20 minutes.
I guess is a Bucs thing, we always want to make things harder than they are.
Go Bucs
December 29th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
it’s a hard decision. if he gets injured like CG14 did then it’s a waste.
i would have loved a couple trask throws to get him down to less than 70 …
but his hamstring is suspect and it’s a a big risk. Bowles would get destroyed if ME13 got injured.
December 29th, 2024 at 6:30 pm
cmon ppl, this is Mike Evans we’re talking about
week 18 ME13 with 100+ rec yds multiple TDs ties Jerry Rice record Bucs blow out victory and win the division. Go Bucs!!!
December 29th, 2024 at 6:49 pm
You guys are insane. Did none of you watch the Ravens game. If Mike breaks his ankle in garbage time and misses the record you would blame Bowles and want him fired. Bowles is far from perfect but damn you haters try to blame no matter what he does. I want the playoff and playoff wins. Love Mike but I want him healthy if and win we do make it.
December 29th, 2024 at 6:50 pm
Don’t forget that Mike missed 3 games this year.
December 29th, 2024 at 7:10 pm
ME13 knows he’s going to Canton. He wants the team to win. He’s also getting healthy as are a few guys on Defense. Tampa wins next week and Mike doesn’t get the record, so what?
December 29th, 2024 at 7:28 pm
Forcing the ball to Evans so that “Fans” can gloat about “1000 yard seasons” is the most selfish and laughable thing I’ve ever heard. Years from now, that won’t even be brought up except by deranged Buc fans. Get the W ……Evans is Hall of Fame period. Even if he doesn’t play another snap
December 29th, 2024 at 8:03 pm
Had HC Bowles/ OC Coen kept Evans in for more yards and he got hurt..
Joe’s???
Joe’s Godwin is on line IR… Care to answer that call????
Would we have all had to read, how dumb that was?
December 29th, 2024 at 8:14 pm
@BuccoDave
Yes sir. I want MK13 to het that record and I’ll yell and holler at the tv until he does.
But I want wins! I want our Tampa Bay Buccaneers to win every game. I want to hear Gene Deckerhoff holler
“Bucs WiN, BUCS WIN, BUCS WIN!”
Monday morning is way yonder easier to deal with after a win.
December 29th, 2024 at 8:19 pm
orlbucfan Says:
December 29th, 2024 at 7:10 pm…Tampa wins next week and Mike doesn’t get the record, so what?
^^^^
I beg to differ with you on this. Record holding players are not forgotten. Their accomplishments remain in the history books. It is the players legacy. Gold Jacket or not ME13 stands to hold a record of achievement that may never be surpassed at least in the foreseeable future. ME13 has been overlooked by the media but soon he will be talked about. (I hope)
December 29th, 2024 at 10:57 pm
Mike is a great receiver but if he retired today, he isn’t going in the HOF. He’s getting close though. He needs to:
1) Do something amazing and that is at least tie Jerry Rice consecutive 1000 yards. Because of the 17 game season, he should also get 1000 yards next year to surpass Rice.
2) 14000 yards minimum but 15000 yards is ideal.
3) 130 TDs to be in the top 5 all time.
So 2 more peak years. You guys all assume it’s a fait accomplis but you can’t take for granted injuries and age in the NFL.
December 29th, 2024 at 11:03 pm
Evans still only got 9 targets. In this type of game he should have had at least 12. Mayfield at least tried but Bowles is too dense. I use to watch Manning and Brady a lot, and there were times they played for stats especially during garbage time (the most obvious was Moss 26 TD season). If Belichick was coaching, Evans would probably have had 150 yards and 3 TDs.
December 29th, 2024 at 11:09 pm
Edit. Moss had 23 TD.
December 30th, 2024 at 1:52 am
So what happened to CHRIS GODWIN in Garbage Time in the Ravens Game
December 30th, 2024 at 2:08 am
Big MIKE shows up and shows out against Aints minus he personal rivalry with Lattimore. He should be in line for a bigger game this week. Jalen has been a lot better I want to see more of Culp let’s see another 50piece and send them on back to Bayou
December 30th, 2024 at 7:50 am
If Todd would have let Evans play anymore and Evans got injured, EVERYONE would blame TODD ! I swear some of our fans are ignorant af. You will always find something to complain about, instead of praising the performance of the Bucs today, on all 3 levels. Bucs defense has been a lot better since the bye week. They were almost last in every category. They have climbed up to middle of the pack, which means they’ve had some good games. As for the AINTS, they are spent. We dropped 52 points on them last time and I think they will drop another 35+ points to win the division for the 4th straight year. Go Bucs and real Bucs fans
December 31st, 2024 at 11:50 am
He’ll drop ball’s and seen him drop more than lol 3 this year your stupid
December 31st, 2024 at 4:44 pm
The record is no longer comparable to Rice’s as it is now a 17 game season. Also, he is 85 yards away not 5.