At Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 5, Buccaneers huge receiver Mike Evans made historical past between the hash marks. He hauled in 5 receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns on Thursday evening towards a divisional foe, reaching the 100 complete landing mark for his profession. His 100 complete touchdowns make him the twenty sixth participant in NFL historical past to perform that feat. Evans tied Frank Gore in addition to Corridor of Famers Franco Harris and Curtis Martin (100) for the Twenty third-most complete touchdowns in league annals. He now has 99 profession receiving touchdowns, tying Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Don Hutson for the Eleventh-most receiving touchdowns in NFL historical past. Together with his two receiving touchdowns, Evans surpassed Antonio Gates for the seventh-most video games with a number of receiving touchdowns in NFL historical past.
Evans’ first landing got here within the opening body. The Falcons scored on their opening possession and Tampa Bay answered with one among its personal. Evans capped off the nine-play, 63-yard drive with a two-yard landing go. From first-and-goal, operating again Bucky Irving went in movement, drawing defenders to the left facet of the formation. Baker Mayfield dropped again and located Evans wide-open behind the top zone on a slant transferring in the other way, night the rating at seven.
His second of the day got here within the second quarter from second-and-11. Down by 4, the Falcons’ security rolled down, leaving Evans in a good one-on-one matchup. Mayfield delivered a dart to Evans on a nook route for a 23-yard landing. That 23-yard play is now etched in Bucs’ lore, marking Evans’ a hundredth profession landing.
“It is type of a shock they left him one-on-one with these safeties that they’ve,” stated Mayfield. “However yeah, he did an excellent job successful on not perfect leverage for that route. And Mike being Mike, he had a giant evening.”
Evans, a high-point specialist, is the one receiver in NFL historical past with 1,000-plus receiving yards in every of his first 10 seasons, surpassing Corridor of Famer Randy Moss. He’s the Bucs’ franchise receptions chief, franchise receiving yards chief and the franchise receiving touchdowns chief. Evans continues to realize consistency and longevity within the NFL, setting the tone on offense. The back-shoulder catch aficionado and future Corridor of Famer, is bodily on the high of routes and is a giant red-zone goal. He’s risk to attain from wherever on the sphere and is adept at choosing up yards after the catch and making contested grabs look easy with excellent physique management. Together with his uncommon leaping capacity, it’s routine to see Evans work excessive of corners on highlight-reel grabs down the sideline. Evans ignited the Bucs’ offense towards the Falcons, creating momentum within the first half.