Instead of taking a knee to complete a victory Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made sure Mike Evans matched Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Evans was five yards shy of the mark, but the team lined up and ran one final play and he turned Baker Mayfield’s short pass into a 9-yard gain to conclude the season with 1,004 receiving yards. After being tackled, Evans spiked the ball hard into the turf and was mobbed by his teammates.
The milestone also earned Evans a $3 million bonus for topping 70 catches, 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. He finished his 11th season with 74 receptions and 11 scores.
Evans, 31, had nine catches for 89 yards on Sunday.
The Buccaneers clinched the NFC South and a playoff appearance with the 27-19 home win over the New Orleans Saints, making the occasion doubly fun for the players.
Evans was watching closely in the final minute, hoping the defense would stop the Saints to give the Buccaneers one last possession.
“I was hoping they’d get the stop, I couldn’t pass up history,” Evans said. “To be tied with the greatest to ever do it. …
“The defense knew the record was on the line and they were trying to get off the field. I appreciate them for that.”
Getting to 1,000 was tougher for Evans this season as he missed three games with a hamstring injury.
Rice had 14 overall 1,000-yard seasons in his career, including 11 straight from 1986-96 with the San Francisco 49ers.
The third-seeded Buccaneers (10-7) will host the sixth-seeded Washington Commanders (12-5) in next Sunday’s wild-card round.
–Field Level Media
