Mike Evans' Latest Milestone Has Baker Mayfield Thinking HOF For Bucs WR

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans knew he was approaching a major milestone in the fourth quarter on Sunday. So did quarterback Baker Mayfield and basically the entire Bucs offense. And they weren't going to waste any time in helping Evans reach it.

Mayfield hit Evans for an 11-yard gain on the first play of a fourth-quarter drive against the Carolina Panthers. And history was made in the process. The four-time Pro Bowler surpassed 1,000 receiving yards on the season with the catch, becoming the first receiver in NFL history to begin his career with 10 consecutive seasons above the 1,000-yard mark. The 30-year-old is now only one standout season away from tying the great Jerry Rice for the longest such streak at any point in a player's career.

And the rain-soaked Bucs fans in attendance, understanding the magnitude of the moment, responded with a standing ovation. A cheer of "Mike, Mike, Mike" broke out in the stands at Raymond James Stadium as a "M1KE" graphic flashed on the video boards. The celebration didn't go to waste in a 21-18 Bucs win.

"Happy we got the win, most importantly," Evans said postgame. "I'm happy with the record obviously. I've had a lot of great quarterbacks and offensive coordinators who believed in me, so I really appreciate them. I hope I can keep that streak going however long my career goes."

Evans entered the game needing 150 yards to hit a grand on the season. He got there with room to spare.

The 6-foot-5, 231-pound wideout caught a season-high seven passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in Tampa Bay's second win in its last eight games. His marquee play of the day came when the Bucs offense needed it most. After a first half that was disrupted by heavy rain, the Panthers—in their first game under interim coach Chris Tabor—took a 10-7 lead with 5:04 remaining in the third quarter. But the Bucs' response was swift.

On the next offensive play, Evans—lined up in the slot to the left—found open space over the middle of the field. Tampa Bay's WR1 wasn't the top option on the play, Mayfield said. But Evans timed up his route well, Carolina's safety rotated away from him, and Mayfield let it rip. And after a nearly 60-yard run to the other end of the field, which caused Evans to puke on the sideline shortly after, the Texas A&M product jumped into the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown.

Officials originally called Evans down at the one-yard line. He knew different.

"That's a touchdown, baby," Evans recalled saying to one of the officials.

A challenge by coach Todd Bowles resulted in a touchdown on the board. The Bucs never trailed again. And Evans was the recipient of a game ball in the locker room afterward.

"I don't know what more you can say," Bowles said. "He's been like this for 10 years now. Sixty catches 10 years in a row, over 1,000 yards 10 years in a row. You know he's getting the ball and everyone is trying to stop him and he makes plays over and over. It's a credit to him, his work ethic, the way he approaches the game. Unbelievable."

The other Pro Bowl Bucs receiver, Chris Godwin, ran in for a 19-yard score at the start of the fourth quarter. Carolina cut into the lead when running back Chuba Hubbard tallied his second touchdown of the day with just over five minutes remaining. But Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. picked off rookie QB Bryce Young on Carolina's final possession to secure a win.

Winfield's focus, though, was on Evans once the final whistle had been blown. The defensive back crashed the receiver's postgame TV interview to call him a legend and a Hall of Famer. And Mayfield tends to agree with that assessment.

"I really don't have the words to describe what he just did in his career to accomplish that for [10] seasons in a row," said Mayfield, who shared a hug with Evans in the tunnel postgame. "Pretty damn happy I wasn't the guy to break that streak, to be honest with you. But more happy for Mike. It's amazing, he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and nobody can take that away from him."

Evans, who sits at 61 catches for 1,012 yards and 10 touchdowns after Sunday's action, isn't totally ready to talk about his potential place in Canton, Ohio, quite yet. The Super Bowl champion said he considers himself a Hall of Fame-caliber player. But the soon-to-be free agent feels like he's playing the best, and smartest, football of his career.

And a few more resume-boosting performances can help Tampa Bay on its division quest.

The combination of a win over the Panthers (1-11, first team eliminated from playoffs) and a New Orleans Saints (5-7) loss on Sunday has the Bucs (5-7) only one game back from the Atlanta Falcons (6-6) in the mediocre NFC South. The Falcons host the Bucs at 1 p.m. ET next week. And the winner will be in control of the division.

So Evans will take a few moments to bask in his accomplishment. But not much more than that.

"Right now I'm focused on trying to get this team to the playoffs," Evans said.