On a night filled with drama and milestones, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured their fourth consecutive NFC South title, defeating the New Orleans Saints 27-19 in Week 18. The win not only punched Tampa Bay’s ticket to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed but also etched wide receiver Mike Evans’ name into the record books.
With just 36 seconds left and the game in hand, the Buccaneers faced a choice: take a knee or give Evans a chance to achieve NFL history. They chose the latter. Quarterback Baker Mayfield found Evans for a 9-yard reception on the final play, pushing the 11th-year veteran over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. It marked the 11th straight season Evans has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, tying Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons in league history. Evans’ spike and subsequent mobbing by teammates set off a raucous celebration at Raymond James Stadium.
“I couldn’t have done this without my teammates, especially Baker,” Evans said. “This moment is one I’ll never forget.”
Baker Mayfield played a pivotal role in the Buccaneers‘ success, rallying the team from a 16-6 halftime deficit for his first career victory after trailing by 10 or more points. Mayfield, previously 0-43 in such situations, delivered when it mattered most, throwing for 212 yards and two touchdowns while adding a career-high 68 rushing yards.
His first touchdown pass came late in the fourth quarter, a 32-yard dart to rookie Jalen McMillan, who showcased toe-tapping brilliance in the end zone for the go-ahead score. McMillan had earlier been flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, pushing Tampa Bay back, but redeemed himself with his seventh touchdown in the last five games.
On the next drive, Mayfield scrambled 28 yards on a crucial third-and-14 from Tampa Bay’s 12-yard line, setting up an 11-yard touchdown run by Bucky Irving on a trick play. The play, a backward flip from Mayfield to Irving, gave the Buccaneers a commanding 27-19 lead.
“This was about belief,” Mayfield said. “We never doubted ourselves, even when we were down. This team has heart.”
The Saints turned the ball over on downs, giving Tampa Bay one last opportunity to ensure Evans reached his milestone. Mayfield hit Evans on a short route, and the veteran wideout sprinted 9 yards, sealing his place in NFL history.
“Mike’s been the heart and soul of this offense for a decade,” Mayfield added. “It was only fitting that he got this moment.”
The victory improved Tampa Bay to 10-7 and secured a home wild-card matchup against the Washington Commanders (12-5) next Sunday night. The game will be a rematch of their Week 1 clash, where Tampa Bay won 37-20 in rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ debut.
Mayfield, who took over after Tom Brady’s retirement, has silenced critics with a career year, throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. With the Buccaneers seeking a deep playoff run, his leadership and Evans’ reliability will be critical.
The Saints finished a tumultuous season at 5-12. Despite a promising 2-0 start under head coach Dennis Allen, New Orleans faltered, leading to Allen’s dismissal and interim coach Darren Rizzi taking over. Quarterback Spencer Rattler threw for 240 yards and a touchdown in the loss, but it was little consolation for a team that began the year with playoff aspirations.
“This isn’t where we wanted to be,” Rattler said. “But we’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
As the Buccaneers turn their attention to the postseason, they carry momentum and belief. With Evans continuing his historic run and Mayfield playing some of the best football of his career, Tampa Bay has the tools to make noise in the playoffs.
“This team isn’t done yet,” head coach Todd Bowles said. “We’ve got bigger goals ahead.”
For Tampa Bay, the night was about more than clinching the division—it was about making history and setting the stage for a promising playoff journey.
