Wednesday, 4 a.m.
He has a Hall of Famer’s resume. He is big, and he fast, and he has the ability to take over a football game. He spits out 1,000-yard seasons like a photo copier.
But do you think the New Orleans Saints are aware of what kind of impact Mike Evans can have?
Year after year, game after game, Evans has found the sledding tough against the Saints, who tend to smother him in these twice-a-year games. Only rarely has Evans broken out, the way he does against the rest of the NFL. Often, Marcus Lattimore and company have denied him.
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It can happen that way. Even Pro Bowlers have teams that vex them more than others.
In 2015, he was held without a catch by the Saints.
In 2016, Evans had one catch for 13 yards.
In 2017, he was held without a catch by the Saints.
In 2020, he had one catch for two yards.
In 2021, he had one catch for 14 yards.
In the playoff win over the Saints in 2021, he had one catch for three yards.
Granted, raw numbers don’t always reflect on a players’ impact on a game. It’s permissible to have a four- or five-catch game. But too often, he has been erased by New Orleans.
It is mystifying. Evans, without argument, is a great player. He has 10 straight 1,000 yard seasons. He has 99 touchdown catches. For an opposing corner, the most common sight in the game is the back of Evans’ jersey.
But not against the Saints.
Oh, it doesn’t always happen. In 2018, Evans had a seven-catch game with 147 yards. But in 19 tries, that’s the only time he has cracked 100 yards.
The Bucs, frankly, could use a breakout game from Evans.He’s played five games this season, and he’s surpassed 62 yards only once.
Look, the Saints are a handful for the Bucs, especially in New Orleans. But if you want an early indication of how this game will go, check out No. 13. If he is successful, the Bucs will be, too.