Mike Evans’ Monster Day Propels Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Second Win
Nov 16, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) runs with the ball to score a touchdown as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) chases during the second half at FedEx Field. The Buccaneers won 27 – 7. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Evans caught two touchdown passes and had 209 receiving yards as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up their second win of the season with a 27-7 victory over the Washington Redskins.
Evans had touchdown receptions of 36 and 56 yards in the second half to extend the Bucs’ (2-8) second half lead from six points to 20.
Evans’ 209 receiving yards are the third highest in Bucs history and he became the first rookie since 2003 to have over 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a single game.
Lovie on Mike Evans: "I’ve been around the league a while and I haven’t been around one [rookie] able to do the things [Evans] has done."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 16, 2014
Tampa Bay had jumped to a 10-0 lead after the first quarter thanks to a Patrick Murray field and goal and a pick six by Johnthan Banks.
Murray’s 38-yard field goal made it 13-0 with 7:39 left in the half before Washington (3-7) got on the scoreboard thanks to a 30-yard touchdown pass from Robert Griffin III to Roy Helu with 11 seconds left.
The second half belonged to the Bucs as Evans scored twice and the Bucs defence shut out the Redskins.
The Bucs had six sacks with Jacquies Smith getting two of them while Danny Lansanah had his third interception of the year on the very first play of the game.
Lavonte David made 12 tackles while Major Wright had nine.
Josh McCown threw for 288 yards on just 15 completions but more importantly didn’t turn the ball over.
Tampa Bay struggled in the running game again however as Charles Sims had just 36 yards on 13 carries as Doug Martin was inactive for the third straight game.
Washington ran 69 plays compared to Tampa Bay’s 46 while the Buccaneers held the football for just 25:49. The Bucs did have 11 penalties for 101 yards.
The Bucs will look to make it two straight wins when they visit Lovie Smith’s old stomping ground in Chicago to battle the Bears next Sunday.