The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the few NFL teams to go into Week 18 with actual stakes at hand against the Saints. Tampa Bay needed a win (or Falcons loss) in order to lock up the NFC South, but that wasn’t the only thing on the team’s mind:
Mike Evans was so close to a massive $3 million incentive bonus.
Evans went into the game needing five receptions and 85 yards to reach that bonus and tie Jerry Rice for an 11th straight 1,000-yard season. Yet, when the Bucs forced a late-game turnover on downs to virtually end the game, it appeared that Evans was going to come up five yards short of that pay day.
Baker Mayfield had other ideas.
MIKE EVANS. 1,000 YARDS ONCE AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/V4S7S8APUX
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
In a somewhat risky move during a one-score game, the Bucs lined up for an offensive play instead of kneeling out the clock. The sole purpose was to get Evans his five yards and that bonus, which was exactly what happened.
Just look at the reaction from the Bucs bench — it was so good. Everyone was fired up for Evans, and NFL fans loved that the Bucs actually made sure to get Evans his money.
Instead of kneeling, the Bucs throw to Mike Evans to get him over 1,000 yards, giving him a $3 million bonus and his 11th straight 1,000-yard season, tying Jerry Rice's record.
The whole team celebrating for him is awesome. https://t.co/vqIITAfS1K
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 5, 2025
Super cool moment this.
Mike Evans needed 5 more yards to get a $3million bonus and team line up to make sure he gets it. Quality pic.twitter.com/hPktR2ijEu
— Nathan Salt (@NathSalt1) January 5, 2025
The team was more hype for this than the last TD. https://t.co/JDLu44p05T
— Vanessa Lambert (@vlamb24) January 5, 2025
The historic milestone, the $3M incentive — the game was already won, but they celebrated just as much when Mike Evans reached that 1K milestone (and bonus)
Teammates celebrating each other is the best. We should all have that energy for our coworkers! https://t.co/eKoKtLf38k
— Neil Horowitz (@njh287) January 5, 2025
they could’ve just kneeled and guaranteed their playoff spot but instead they run a play just to get mike evans the 5 yards he needed for $3million and over 1000 yards, incredible https://t.co/56NQpzp1ZY
— jake (@LeclercVZN) January 5, 2025
Exactly why the eagles should have played saquon barkley. Look how much it means to the guys https://t.co/7F2tPex00Q
— Dennis (@dennis2414_) January 5, 2025
I love this https://t.co/nnTl8CDzfU
— Mike Guardabascio (@Guardabascio) January 5, 2025
