Mike Evans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' prized possession, returned to the field after missing six games due to a fractured collarbone suffered in Detroit in Week Seven on Monday Night Football. Evans also had missed three games earlier in the season with a hamstring strain but in Week 15, he made his presence felt in the lineup.
Evans led the offense with six receptions for 132 yards. It marked his 39th career 100-yard performance, and his first since Week 15 of the 2024 season against the Los Angeles Chargers. His 39 career 100-yard games are tied for the fourth-most among active players, trailing only Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins and Keenan Allen. He made an impact on corner/out routes, working the sideline to perfection to move the chains. Evans brought life to the offense with explosive plays, spearheading drives.
"Played winning football," said Todd Bowles of Mike Evans. "He gave his heart. He gave his all."
In the third quarter, Evans climbed the ladder and made an incredible catch over the Falcons' Cobee Bryant for a 45-yard gain that helped spark the Devin Culp six-yard touchdown catch. Earlier in the game, Evans initially faked the corner route and once the defensive back took the bait, he continued vertically for a pickup of 33 yards that led to a Chase McLaughlin 52-yard field goal.
He became Baker Mayfield's go-to target on Thursday Night Football and provided an energetic spark when the offense needed it most. The jump-ball specialist high-pointed throws and created subtle separation to ignite Tampa Bay's aerial attack. Evans, the only receiver in NFL history with 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons, became the catalyst for the Bucs on Thursday night, lighting it up between the hashes.
