In the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise, there has never been a player like wide receiver Mike Evans.
If Evans can somehow find a way to get 85 receiving yards in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New Orleans Saints, we can also say there has been only one other player in the history of the NFL like Evans, who is trying to tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards.
That it’s the most important game of the year for the Buccaneers only ratchets up the drama — the Buccaneers can clinch a fifth consecutive playoff appearance with a victory.
“I couldn’t track it, but I know it’s getting close,” Evans told ESPN’s Jenna Laine. “I’m just trying to make every play that comes my way. Obviously it gets bigger and bigger each year — when you’re chasing history, you’re chasing greatness. I’ve been blessed to do that for this many years and be close this year. Hopefully I get it.”
That Evans or the Buccaneers are even in this position is its own kind of football miracle.
