Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans entered Sunday’s regular-season finale against the New Orleans Saints needing five catches and 85 yards to trigger a $3 million bonus for getting 70 catches, 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on the year.
That 85-yard mark would also tie Evans with NFL legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons of all time at 11.
With 36 seconds remaining, Evans needed just five more yards, but he got that plus four more after quarterback Baker Mayfield hit him with a pass.
With that, Evans finished the year with 74 catches, 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns after his nine-reception, 89-yard outing.
And for the Bucs, that capped a 27-19 win which sealed a 10-7 season, an NFC South title and a playoff berth.
The Bucs took possession after the Saints turned the ball over on downs. Tampa Bay was in a position to run out the clock and end the game, but it was clear getting Evans to the 1,000-yard mark was important for every Buc involved before doing so.
Mayfield stepped back and found an open Evans, who jubilant teammates mauled after he surpassed 1,000 yards yet again.
Evans spoke about it afterward, per Mike Jones of The Athletic.
It was an incredible moment for a beloved and surefire Pro Football Hall of Famer, who posted his 74/1,004/11 season despite missing three-plus games this year with a hamstring injury.
Rice is one of the greatest NFL players of all time, and he’s beyond approach at the wide receiver position. So for Evans to be on the same plane as him in a category is incredible work. His consistency is unmatched, having accomplished the 1,000-yard feat in each of his seasons.
Evans needs three more 1,000-yard seasons to tie Rice’s mark of 14 for the most all-time, and it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see him get there someday.
In the meantime, Evans and the Bucs look forward to the Wild Card round, where they will play Saturday, Sunday or Monday against the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings or Washington Commanders.
