Mike Evans Is Excited
December 16th, 2025
Yes, Joe has a reason for optimism!
Thursday night in the heinous choke job against the Falcons, the Bucs moved the ball up and down the field. Their 28 first downs were the most against Atlanta all season.
Despite Baker Mayfield throwing an interception and getting sacked five times, his 277 yards passing were the second-most against the Falcons this year.
For the first time, receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan were healthy and on the field.
It showed.
“We showed a fraction of what we can be, and that’s the exciting part,” Mike Evans said on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night.
Joe has to agree. This could be the best Bucs receiving corps to ever take a field, and the Bucs’ run game can deliver just enough to keep defenses honest. On Thursday, the Bucs scored 28 points easily — with 13 1/2 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Maybe, just maybe, the Bucs can outscore the Panthers and Dolphins to win another division title.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:22 am
All that talent means NOTHING if our coached can’t scheme and call plays to put them in position to win! I have ZERO faith in this staff, hope I am wrong.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:24 am
And just like that. Bowles’half-baked’ , to put it kindly team, is a Super Bowl team again. It is magical.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:25 am
I predict the Bucs will not win another game this season and rebuild and go 3-14 next season and the 1st pick in the 2027 NFL Draft the Bucs select Arch Manning
December 16th, 2025 at 9:26 am
If any member of our D loafs on Sunday, I’d like to see Evans and Godwin escort said player to the blue tent for an attitude adjustment.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:29 am
A LOT of people are saying this is the BEST “Bucs” receiving group EVER. Evans, Godwin, Egbuka, McMillan all back, all HEALTHY, TOTAL DOMINATION. Points came FAST. Very scary offense. Division title? DON’T BE SURPRISED!
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:29 am
If Mike is excited, count me in. Loving the vibe and hope the entire team is feeling it too! Go Bucs!
December 16th, 2025 at 9:33 am
Get the ball to ME and CG often Sunday. At the least make the game entertaining.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:36 am
Well Joe Evans is the correct, the receiving core hopefully is fun to watch now. That to me is the only excitinfg thing to watch pver the next 3 weeks. Yes, they need to score a ton of points to bail out the defense. I saw Ronde Barber last night on your competitor’s network, Pewter Report Podcast. I mention only to bring up, you should have him on the Ira pocast. He really put things in perspective. I do suggest you and everyone watch it. I sure had a better understanding after watching it and rrealize this team at this point is what it is. The scheme won’t help when you don’t have the players. However that’s not to say the scheme should not change as that is not working with these players.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:39 am
DJT – Baker needs to play better, period point blank. Our 2 trash guards also need to play better for Baker to play better. For the most part, not everything falls in the line. Shaun King is right that Baker is pressing with happy feet and spotty accuracy. Buffalo’s offensive isnt great in the least, and I know one thing – Josh Allen would turn in to a mega god if he had this receiving group. Baker needs to be better
December 16th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Here’s one for everybody … if it hasn’t been mentioned.
This was my query to A.I.:
“If the Tampa Bay Bucs lose to Carolina this week, but beat the Dolphins next week and beat Carolina in their final game, who wins the NFC South if Carolina beats Seattle in Week 17?”
Answer: with both teams finishing at 9-8 the Bucs win the tiebreaker with a better record among common opponents.
So, this week’s game means nothing if the Bucs lose to Carolina this week but beat the Dolphins in Week 17 and Carolina in the Week 18 final at home.
December 16th, 2025 at 9:48 am
And get to the playoffs for what? To get smoked in the first round?
December 16th, 2025 at 9:49 am
Joe said…”On Thursday, the Bucs scored 28 points easily — with 13 1/2 minutes remaining in the first half.”.
????????
I’m 100% sure 15 of those points came in the 2nd half!!!
Just sayin… perhaps you meant with 13 1/2 minutes remaining in the 2nd half.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:01 am
Mike owns the panthers. Hope we get another show on Sunday!
And Chris looking great coming back from injury. Glad we paid him.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:02 am
Does it really matter how excited Evans is if we have a Defense that plays so darn bad? I suggest we put Evans in at Defensive End in order to take advantage of his excitement. He has the same chance (0%) of getting pressure on the opposing QB as out current Defensive front.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Joe,
Just come out and say it already……the #1 problem right now with the Bucs is their crappy defense.
The only hope this Bucs team has, is to score points like crazy because the defense is so unreliable which must be driving LVD like crazy!!!!
December 16th, 2025 at 10:04 am
Mike is the only reason to watch the final 3 games
December 16th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Baker showing true baker
December 16th, 2025 at 10:18 am
It is good to see Mike back…his spark and leadership on the field is something desperately needed. 130+ first game back from injury isnt surprising coming from him.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:18 am
JA Says:
December 16th, 2025 at 9:46 am
Here’s one for everybody … if it hasn’t been mentioned.
This was my query to A.I.:
“If the Tampa Bay Bucs lose to Carolina this week, but beat the Dolphins next week and beat Carolina in their final game, who wins the NFC South if Carolina beats Seattle in Week 17?”
Answer: with both teams finishing at 9-8 the Bucs win the tiebreaker with a better record among common opponents.
So, this week’s game means nothing if the Bucs lose to Carolina this week but beat the Dolphins in Week 17 and Carolina in the Week 18 final at home
What a stupid moronic statment this game means everything you tool the Bucs are not talented enough to lose this weekend and win the final 2, in fact they will not win again, you moronic Bucs fans live in a fantasy world
December 16th, 2025 at 10:20 am
This mentality is so dumb. Are you even a Bucs fan? The playoffs are awesome. It’s great for the team, the coaching staff, the players, the fans, and the community. A player could make a great play and be a difference maker in a playoff win. An opposing team’s QB can get injured and their backup has a bad game. Most games come down to a handful of plays so why wouldn’t you want the team to play for the playoffs.
Your take is idiotic. It’s too bad there isn’t a delete button for you.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:24 am
The 2025 stats for all NFL QB’s look remarkably similar through week 15. A lot of guys including Baker with 22-24 TD’s and 7-12INT’s. A couple of outliers like Stafford and Goff. If Baker had a healthy O line and his healthy receivers, he would be up there with Stafford. Unfortunately, all Baker has gotten for trying to play through his injuries is ridicule from the beer guzzling, pot belly crowd that populate these pages.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:29 am
I have run out of negative energy on this team. But: Reading this post and hearing Evans walking off the field so distraught over third and 28 but still excited for what’s about to come in the next three games has raised my spirits.
Whatever it takes, I hope Mike Evans remains a Buccaneer for the rest of his career and stays in the community after because Lord knows, we need more people like him.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Now, Grizzard, can you get him 728 yards in the next three games???
December 16th, 2025 at 10:34 am
Wisconsin—
Yeah, we might get smoked in the first round, but I’m a fan. I love to watch the Bucs play football. Although winning is far better than its ugly alternative, if the Bucs get bounced in the first playoff round it’s still one less week we must wait until Week 1 of the 2026 season.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Fire Todd
December 16th, 2025 at 10:42 am
Where are the fools saying Godwin was a waste of money? Willing to bet at least 5 of you commenting was talking **** about him and his contract 4 weeks ago.
WhAt A wAsTe Of MoNeY. fIRe ToDd. TrAdE cHrIs. BlOw ThIs TeAm Up
Blah blah blah go root for the jags losers
December 16th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Aptly named Poopy!
Thank you for the “moron” statement. Always gives me a starting point to deal with those who resort to calling names due to a vocabulary shortage.
The game means nothing with regard to the playoff picture if they win the last two. Means all is not lost for the playoff picture if they lose. Conversely, if the Bucs win Sunday and beat the Dolphins the next week the Week 18 game will mean NOTHING! The Bucs might even rest some starters, not that they need to rest anybody the way they’ve been playing
Some might call the “nothing” as reading between the lines.
Follow? I can break it down a bit further if need be.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:47 am
I’ll be excited when I see Todd Bowles is fired.
December 16th, 2025 at 10:52 am
“Joe has to agree. This could be the best Bucs receiving corps to ever take a field, and the Bucs’ run game can deliver just enough to keep defenses honest.”
Meh, ’20-’21 Evans-Godwin-AB >>>> this lineup because we had them available for more time while they were younger and healthier, or maybe it was because the QB play was better. Who knows, it’s documented Mike can make any QB who’s suits up look good. Did it from McCown to Fitzpatrick to Winston to Brady to Mayfield
December 16th, 2025 at 10:59 am
I wonder if it’s Evans final year with the Bucs?
He’s been on the bottom with the Bucs. He’s been on top. He only has a 1-2 years left. Does he want to spend it back on the bottom?
December 16th, 2025 at 11:02 am
Put up a bunch of points. No defense.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:04 am
I will be one of the first to agree that Baker Mayfield has started to see ghosts a bit and gets Happy feet in the pocket and tries to run and make something instead of throwing the ball away leading to some unnecessary sacks and poor throws.
So I do agree that a good portion of the blame should fall on him and his performance over the last six or so games. All that to be said I think it is very correctable and that some of the fault is on the play calling and the offensive line and I will explain:
Baker is not a very tall quarterback. Think of him being Drew Brees size. He is among the lead leaders every year’s involves batted down at the line of scrimmage. Well one way to avoid that is to design plays where his launch point is moved. This means don’t have him always in shotgun or under center backing up and staying in a pocket in the center. When he is in that situation he has to see over tall defensive lineman and his offensive line which is why we don’t have a lot of successful passes in the middle of the field. Given his pretty good mobility there should be more quarterback rule outs that get him moving towards his tackles which are the strength of our offensive line and give him more visibility towards the receivers. I know it might limit a couple of the offensive routes of the receivers because one part of the field would be harder to throw to. But when you have the likes of our receiving crew now healthy somebody should be getting open with that and if not there should always be a leak out option of tight end or running back for a short dump off if the deeper guys are covered.
Our interior offensive line has been terrible this year. Graham Barton was a waste of a first round pick as he has not progressed at all in his second year at center and there are centers picked after him in last year’s draft who are outperforming him. With losing Cody Mauch, Right guard has been an issue all year and since Barton has not been able to do enough to help out the right side of the interior line has been a particular weak spot. And bredeson is serviceable but has been in and out of the lineup and is now out for the rest of the year. So for a smaller quarterback who is staying in the pocket to pass having his interior offensive line being dominated is not allowing him to make his reads and throw the way we are seeing other teams do against us repeatedly.
I think Jason Licht field failed this team by not running out and getting a good interior lineman when Mauch went out at the beginning of the year. And I think it has had a bigger impact than anybody has thought.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:10 am
If this is the best receiver core bucs had they just need a qb baker aint it he just not a winner
December 16th, 2025 at 11:12 am
I have not heard a hearty LFG!!!!!!! in a while!
December 16th, 2025 at 11:17 am
I realize we will probably get smoked in the wildcard game, if we make it that far, but I’d still rather make the playoffs than not.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:23 am
Coconut donut, there’s a reason for that.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:31 am
The “fans” here that criticize Baker are really hard to read. Who should Baker be traded for: Love, Murry, Purdy, Brice, Arnold, etc? NO!
Maybe Caleb or Goff or Stafford. You jerks who want to trash Baker don’t realize the the majority of the teams would love to trade for him.
Baker is far above the average Buc starter and we are lucky to have him.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:32 am
Donald not Arnold.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:33 am
Hang tight Mike. Have a new HC coach next year radio will be gone. Kubiak?
Monken. Joe brady. Anyone over this dope
December 16th, 2025 at 11:44 am
Amen Jerseybuc.
December 16th, 2025 at 11:48 am
JA Says:
December 16th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Aptly named Poopy!
Thank you for the “moron” statement. Always gives me a starting point to deal with those who resort to calling names due to a vocabulary shortage.
The game means nothing with regard to the playoff picture if they win the last two. Means all is not lost for the playoff picture if they lose. Conversely, if the Bucs win Sunday and beat the Dolphins the next week the Week 18 game will mean NOTHING! The Bucs might even rest some starters, not that they need to rest anybody the way they’ve been playing
Some might call the “nothing” as reading between the lines.
Follow? I can break it down a bit further if need be.
You must be one of those unemployed losers like all the other guys in here that has no life, friends or girl and post on here 200 times a day lol
December 16th, 2025 at 11:56 am
An entire article, because Evans said they, “Showed a fraction of what they could be”? Is it the off-season already?
December 16th, 2025 at 11:58 am
Thinking Mike will stay on a couple more seasons. He was awesome Thursday night. We definitely can be in the playoffs.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:06 pm
Unfortunately Mike plays on offense and not the uninspired defense which keeps costing this team games. I don’t think there was one fan stupid enough to think that game waas won when we had a 14 point lead in the fourth quarter with thiss putrid defense. 4th and 14, no problem.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
28 first downs vs Falcons, but only 3 in 4th quarter + an interception.
Despite the Defensive ineptness, 4th quarter Offensive failures have cost the Bucs at least 3 games.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Cry me a god damn river Gipper. Grow a pair. You are talking yourself in to believing that only anonymous fans are “ridiculing” Baker which is patently false. You only WANT to believe it. Chase Daniel, Coach JB, Shaun King and many others who know quite a bit more than you do have laid out the reasons why he has played poorly in great detail. Stop being so soft and own it. I love Baker, but sometimes you have to call a spade a spade.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
I liked the Egbuka pick, up until this last game when I realized they picked a #4 receiver instead of a #1 defensive player (edge or ILB).
Likable as Egbuka is, I do wonder just what the record of the Bucs would have been with a defensive player.
Licht fell in love with the real estate, and maybe that will work out long-term, but short-term it’s not going to help them now.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Bucs haven’t been smoked in any playoff games. The last time they were smoked was when Brady was here. All three of the ones they lost were close and winnable at the end
December 16th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
‘74 Bucs Fan wins this here post.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
I am excited for Evan’s. As said already, this is one of the best if not the best receiving group in the NFL. Just hope Licht and the Glazers do the right thing at the end of the season to make the best of this talent before free agency & retirement takes it’s toll. Weather it’s getting rid of several coaches, Bowles, or both. However, I think the Bucs may get rid of several defense coaches and give Bowles 1 more season. I know it’s hard to stomach for many Buc fans but it is what it is. I am not saying Bowles should stay but I do think Bowles has been to loyal to a lot of his coach and it’s now biting him in the ..s
December 16th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
gofortheface30 Says:
December 16th, 2025 at 12:12 pm
Cry me a god damn river Gipper. Grow a pair
===================================
It’s not hard to pull up the data and see for yourself. You have to want to which requires slight effort. The mark of a fool—in the face of evidence— says the evidence is wrong. Evidence is as I said. There is a lot wrong with the Tampa Bay Bucs but Mayfield isn’t one.
December 16th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Joe is a dreamer. And that’s OK.
But I’m more of a realist.
And the reality of the situation is that Bowles has lost the team.
There are very few fans that are still waving the Pom Poms for him.
We will all be witnesses to the final days of the Bowles regime.
35-34
December 16th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Poopy pants,
Arch is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, not 2027, and teams don’t lock in the No. 1 pick two years in advance.
This isn’t a prediction — it’s a misunderstanding of how the NFL works.
December 16th, 2025 at 1:25 pm
Joe, we love you, but you have been hanging out with the FO media propaganda team too much! Next thing you know you’ll be dressing like Kim Jong Un and calling the Glazers the Supreme Leaders.
December 16th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Everybody’s take on this site is noted but baker has had tremendous seasons since getting to Tampa after last year I don’t believe this is about him this play calli g is falling way short after the 6& 2 start he did have Evans for the 1st 4 games of season & success gizzard is not calling the rite plays cause look at what Coen has done with T.Lawrence this year this ain’t on Baker this is Grizzard the Lizzard clean it up pal
December 16th, 2025 at 1:36 pm
ModHairKen – Fully agree. So happy Mike is on our team! His excitement is contagious. Can’t wait until Sunday!
December 16th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
Can our receivers play both sides and help in coverage?lol I’d feel better. Doesn’t help with our non-existent pass rush. I’m not worried about the offense…although if our OL can’t protect, it doesn’t matter if our receivers are healthy or not. But our defense is shxtty.
December 16th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
Mayfield numbers for year 3 will be better than year 1. That includes all the injuries to Oline, receivers, and Baker himself.
December 16th, 2025 at 1:42 pm
Can our receivers play both sides and help in coverage?lol I’d feel better. Doesn’t help with our non-existent pass rush. I’m not worried about the offense…although if our OL can’t protect, it doesn’t matter if our receivers are healthy or not. But our defense is doo doo.
December 16th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Both Mike’s performance and leadership was greatly missed. I’m so glad he’s back!
December 16th, 2025 at 1:57 pm
Baker haters, Bowles haters, and Bucs haters galore can’t change the fact that the Buccaneers are still in the hunt to win the division!! I’m excited for our offense which is improving in leaps and bounds after the return of ME 13, CG 14, and Jalen McMillan.
If the Bucs defense can just get close to playing at the level they played against the eagles in the second half, or even the level they played against Arizona, they will beat the panthers at home this Sunday. All they have to do is improve as a defense and let the offense win the game !!
Let’s Go !!
Go Bucs !!
December 16th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
BartowBuc,
It helps having the varsity back. Tough playing with the JV team. Still need a LG and RG.
December 16th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
JA, great point you made to Wisconsin my friend !!
“One less week to wait to watch Bucs football in 2026” I’m all for that !!
Go Bucs !!
December 16th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
Gipper, agreed, two excellent guards would really be a huge problem solver !! Having rookie guards really hurt the Bucs offensive performance against Atlanta.
Go Bucs !!
December 16th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Evans easily would have been over 200 yards if Baker wasn’t misfiring most of the night. Hopefully we see a better Baker vs the Panthers and still end up getting Mike the 1000 yards. All he needs is a 300 yard game to get back on track – and frankly, give Baker and the offense a goal, and I bet you anything they look dramatically better than they have looked this year.
December 16th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
The offensive line was horrific! There was constant pressure on Baker Mayfield and he never got settled down. On defense, the Bucs couldn’t stop the Falcons. If it weren’t for Atlanta committing the most penalties by any team in the history of football, they would’ve hung a 50 Burger on the Bucs. Mike Evans was the lone bright, shining star in the game for Tampa Bay, and I kept thinking,”….Oooh! That hit just knocked him back out for the rest of the year!”…. over and over again.
December 16th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
I Truly believe Jason light needs to stop drafting alter boys and draft real football players..we need tough players not soft players. Every game we seem to definitely be-the softest defense
December 16th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
@SlyPirate
Yeah I’m kind of wondering that, too! I’m wondering if maybe the team really hasn’t looked themselves for awhile now. Sure the coaching is a big part of it as always but yeah I’m wondering if maybe he might of come out & said he’s considering finishing after this year & that really took everything out of the team because they really don’t look like they did before.
December 16th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
Canabuc makes a good point about Baker Mayfielld. Being on the shorter side, throwing from the pocket isnt optimal for him.
Bo Nix of the Broncos is about the same height, yet he has nowhere near the same amount of blocked passes. Sean Payton has him rollling out to both sides, and dials in plays for him to throw on the move.
Grizz should do the same. Move Bakers throwing platform, and play to his strengths.
December 16th, 2025 at 4:18 pm
JA,
With regard to the playoffs, I believe that the main advantage (although slight) the Bucs have over the Panthers comes down to the middle game. That is, if the Bucs beat the Panthers and the Panthers lose to the Seahawks, the Bucs are in regardless of whether they lose to the Dolphins and then lose the next week. However, if the Bucs lose to Carolina this week, the only way the Bucs are eliminated before next week is if Carolina beats the Seahawks AND the Bucs lose to the Dolphins. So, the Bucs and Carolina both can win the division by sweeping the other side—but, a split favors the Bucs- giving them more chances to win the division. Just giving the facts—-as I realize that there are many who believe that a Canadian football team could light up this Bucs defense right now and that they have little chance to win.
December 16th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
28 first downs…
19 falcon penalties.
How many of those first downs were a result of the penalties?
Don’t get to excited about us moving the ball in that contest…
Huge game Sunday…let’s go boys, pull your head out in all 3 phases!
December 16th, 2025 at 6:02 pm
The 2020 Bucs receiver corp was the best. You had Mike Evans. Godwin, Bradcaskey, and Antonio Brown. That’s 3 Hall of Famers and Godwin could make it to Gall of Fame
December 16th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
Rod Munch,
Very good point about Evans possibly getting another 1000 yard season. I never would have thought he had a chance. And yes, you give Baker a goal and he’s the kind of quarterback that will fight for it.
I believe Bakers injuries have affected his passing ability, but maybe after 11 days rest he’s healed enough to have an excellent day in Carolina. Hopefully, he will have a more secure pocket to pass from this week, he’s just not had one since all our oline injuries occurred.
Go Bucs !!