Mike Evans’ reaction perfectly summed up understandable frustration in final moments of Bucs’ horrendous loss to the Falcons
The future Hall of Famer’s emotions came out at the end of the game, and it’s hard to blame him one bit.
Mike Evans has done everything he could over the last month and a half to get back on the football field, which he finally did on Thursday night against Atlanta after a six-game absence.
And Evans did everything on the field against the Falcons to put the Bucs in position to pick up a crucial division win that the team desperately needed in the midst of another mid-to-late season swoon that always seems to happen under Todd Bowles. Evans was a monster in his return to action, totaling 6 catches for 132 yards to fuel the Bucs’ offense.
However, with the final seconds running down and Atlanta in field goal range, Evans’ emotions came out on the sideline. And no one can blame him one bit for his feelings.
Bucs fans know the rest. The Bucs gagged away a 28-14 fourth quarter lead and Atlanta escaped with a 29-28 win on a walk-off field goal by Zane Gonzalez. The loss is the second straight to a division foe with a terrible record, just four days removed from a 24-20 loss to the 10-loss Saints.
On the way to the locker room under the stadium, it sounds as though Evans was repeating “third-and-28”, which is the down and distance the Falcons faced on the final drive, with the Bucs’ defense allowing Atlanta to ultimately convert.
Bucs wasted Mike Evans’ return with a myriad of mistakes in the final minutes
Evans had been out since October 20 with a broken collarbone he suffered in a 24-9 loss to the Detroit Lions. The blow was a tough one to a Tampa Bay offense that’s struggled since coming out of the bye week, both on the ground and through the air.
However, he returned to practice last week alongside Jalen McMillan, and both were able to return and make an impact on Thursday. And Evans was a monster on the outside on Thursday night, “mossing” Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant with a big leaping 45-yard gain where he pulled the ball away from Bryant on a jump ball. And after every catch, Evans was even more animated than his typical self. It was a terrific return for the future Hall of Famer.
But Tampa Bay did what it’s done lately – find ways to lose ballgames, and there were plenty of culprits to point to. Tampa Bay’s pass rush was, once again, on a milk carton, allowing Kirk Cousins to shred the Bucs’ secondary like usual. Tampa Bay couldn’t figure out a way to contain Kyle Pitts, who went off with 11 catches for 163 yards and 3 touchdowns – something that should never happen. The Bucs’ defense also had a shot at two fumble recoveries in the final minutes – which looked to be sure-fire turnovers with nothing but creamsicle orange jerseys around the ball. But they failed to come away with either of them.
And Baker Mayfield found a way to contribute as well, throwing a pick with Tampa Bay in field goal range and up 28-20 with a little over eight minutes left in the game. He also missed Emeka Egbuka for what would have been a game-clinching reception on Tampa Bay’s final drive. The Bucs are paying Mayfield way too much money to miss on throws like those.
But, even with all the mistakes, third-and-28 will stick in the craw of Bucs players and fans for a long time to come. And it’s something that’s likely not going to leave Evans’ mind any time soon.
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