Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Mike Evans has accomplished something no other receiver has done in league history. He is the only wide receiver in NFL history to have 65+ receptions in 11 consecutive seasons. The only other players in league history to have 65+ receptions in 11 straight years are Tight Ends Travis Kelce with 12 such seasons and Tony Gonzalez with 15. The consistency Evans has exhibited over his NFL career is nothing short of extraordinary. He has consistently succeeded with quarterbacks ranging from Jameis Winston to Tom Brady.
Evans has had another stellar regular season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has 65 receptions for 915 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. He has played 13 of Tampa’s 16 games this year due to a hamstring injury he suffered earlier in the season. The star wideout is chasing another piece of history in Week 18 as he is eyeing his 11th straight 1,000-yard season. That would put him second all-time behind Jerry Rice in career 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Rice has 14 of those seasons.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season Summary
The ONLY wide receiver in @NFL history with 65+ receptions in 11 consecutive seasons 🐐 pic.twitter.com/96T6j8LEXZ
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 1, 2025
Tampa Bay has been led by a stellar offense this season. They are third in the league in yards per game and fourth in points per game. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has also played at an MVP level this season. He is third in the league in passing yards and tied for second in passing touchdowns. Mayfield has experienced a career resurgence with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has the team on the precipice of another playoff berth.
Tampa Bay’s defense has been the weaker part of their team this season. They are 21st in yards per game and 17th in points allowed. To his credit, Head Coach Todd Bowles has the unit playing better in recent games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won five of six and the defense has surrendered an average of 15 points per game over that stretch. Tampa’s defense must keep it up for the team to reach its full potential.
Final Thoughts
Tampa Bay(9-7) leads the NFC South with one game left in the regular season. Their path to the NFL Playoffs is simple. They must defeat the New Orleans Saints at home on Sunday. If the Buccaneers were to lose, and the Falcons go on to defeat the Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay would be left out of the postseason.
Both the Buccaneers and Evans have a great deal to play for in the season finale. Evans needs 85 receiving yards to go over 1,000 yards once again and Tampa needs a win to clinch their fourth straight division title and ensure a home playoff game.
