Within the unpredictable world of the NFL, there are few in historical past who’ve been as constantly stellar as Mike Evans.
He enters Sunday seeking to tie Jerry Rice for essentially the most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield stays steadfast in his intention to get Evans there.
“Let’s put issues in perspective,” Mayfield mentioned Wednesday, through staff transcript. “You are speaking about tying someone [Rice] that has all receiving data throughout the NFL all through historical past. You are speaking about someone that is constantly been someone on this neighborhood that has raised folks up, continued to be the face of this franchise and be there for folks, in order that report is essential for us. To get him to that — clearly, profitable is a very powerful half, however these two issues go hand in hand.”
Evans wants 85 yards Sunday for his eleventh straight 1,000-yard season.
The Buccaneers want a win over the New Orleans Saints to clinch their fourth NFC South title in a row.
Tampa Bay is 4-0 this season when Evans has 85 or extra yards.
Thus, the 2 do, certainly, go hand in hand.
“Mike is a large a part of this offense and an enormous a part of this passing recreation and so getting him concerned early and sometimes is a number of the explanation we have had success,” Mayfield mentioned. “These issues go hand in hand. There’s stability and a very powerful factor is profitable however I see it taking part in out — if we win, Mike is getting the report. Now we have to concentrate on profitable and getting him the ball, however [our] guys are taking part in for one another.”
Evans way back set the report for many consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start out a profession. Corridor of Famer Randy Moss is a distant second with six.
Now Evans is getting into the rarest territory of doubtless tying Rice, broadly seen as the best broad receiver of all time, for essentially the most consecutive 1K campaigns in a row total.
He would additionally draw inside three seasons of Rice’s 14 whole 1,000-yard showings in a single’s profession.
Retaining the streak alive drew better consideration when Evans missed three video games this season as a consequence of a hamstring damage. Now, he sits at 915 yards with 85 to go for extra historical past and Mayfield will likely be his largest supporter.
“Mike will not say something about it, and that is simply who he’s,” Mayfield mentioned. “That is why we love him, that is why all people loves him, that is why he is been so constant for thus lengthy. It is by no means been about simply himself; it has been about profitable and looking for methods to win.”
