Tampa Bay Buccaneers Wide Receiver Mike Evans helped lead the team to a 40-17 road victory this afternoon against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had a season-high 9 grabs for 159 receiving yards. A great game by Evans gave him 749 receiving yards on the season as he is eyeing a historic 11th straight 1000-yard season to begin his career. An 11th consecutive such season would break a tie between Evans and Randy Moss for the most 1000-yard career seasons. Jerry Rice is atop the list with 14 seasons.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sliced and diced a Chargers defense that has been one of the league’s best this season. Quarterback Baker Mayfield tied his career high with 4 passing touchdowns and added 288 passing yards. Will Tampa Bay’s offense be able to carry this momentum into their final three games as they eye a deep playoff run?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season History
9 catches
159 yards
2 TDNow with 749 receiving yards, Mike Evans continues his mission for an 11th straight 1000-yard season 😤 pic.twitter.com/Rfc1hKHClZ
— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2024
Tampa Bay’s win improved their record to 8-6 on the season. They hold a 1.5-game lead over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. The Bucs are eyeing their fourth straight division title and a fifth consecutive playoff appearance. As was on display today against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense has been exemplary this season. They are third in total yards and fifth in points per game.
The team’s defense has been the weaker part of their team this season. They are 28th in yards allowed and 22nd in points allowed. They fared relatively well today as Chargers Quarterback Justin Herbert was limited to 195 passing yards and tossed his first interception since Week 2. Tampa Bay’s defense will need to play better for the team to reach its full potential.
Final Thoughts
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aim for their fifth consecutive victory when they visit the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday. Tampa Bay now has an 87% to make the NFL Playoffs. The performances of Mayfield, Evans, and the rest of the Buccaneers offense, are a sign of positive things to come for the squad.
