A Singular Purpose (With Conjoining Paths)

Not only is Tampa Bay trying to make the playoffs again, but Mike Evans is also 85 yards away from his eleventh, you did not read wrong, eleventh, 1,000 yard receiving season. Did I mention these 11 seasons happened straight, by the way? No leaps in years, no off seasons, just pure consistency from Evans. While that record is a tremendous feat and one that should be recognized, the Bucs are going to be playing with a bigger goal in mind. A win this week against the struggling Saints would grant them entry to the playoffs. The Bucs have been one heck of a team this year. They started unbelievably strong, withered down a little in the middle of the season, and have now seemingly found their pace again. They have won five of their last six games they’ve played, have had unbelievable offense, and much better defensive stands. Forget their pass game, their ground game has been absurd. Since their bye week, they have averaged 184 yards per game and are second best in yards per carry with 5.5 yards. This is mostly thanks to Bucky Irving, their rookie sensation from Oregon who has totaled 1,000+ yards rushing and almost 400 yards receiving. This is all before we get to the likes of Mike Evans, Cade Otton, and of course, Baker Mayfield. I think Evans gets the record and the Bucs move on, quite easily.

The Saints don’t have a whole lot to show for their season this year. They sit at 5-11, out of contention, and currently on a three-game skid. They just lost to the Raiders at home last week and then shut out by Green Bay the previous week. They have injuries, but I’m not going to repeat them because I’d just be beating a dead horse everyone’s already aware of. I think they just need to regroup and hit the drawing board next year. There are pieces to this team, it’s just about having those other pieces to make the whole puzzle. And they don’t have those yet. Next year though, they might.