The Bucs With And Without Mike Evans
December 13th, 2025
Mike Evans was a warrior Thursday night, showcasing his elite talent, playing like it was a must-win playoff game and proving he’s 100 percent healthy following a broken collarbone two months ago.
It was a Hall of Fame showing.
Evans was a force in his first game back from injury. His timing was good. His trademark fight and focus were on display.
The greatest receiver in Bucs history not only posted big numbers but he also drew flags.
Before the heinous loss to the laughable Falcons, Evans was a focus of a graphic on FanDuel TV. It illustrated how over the past two seasons, the Bucs are a garbage team with garbage offense without Evans, and elite with him.
Unfortunately, the Evans effect wasn’t enough on Thursday night, though it almost was. The Bucs scored 28 points rather easily, but they gave up 29.
If Bucs fans are looking for hope against the Panthers in eight days, they can easily point to No. 13, especially when he’s healthy like he is now. The numbers back it up.
December 13th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Hate to be a broken record here, but 3rd and 28!!!!!!!!!
December 13th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Bowles is the major problem. Cannot evaluate anything else until that gets fixed. The line looks bad, coordinater looks bad, baker looks bad, players on the d look bad. I do think a lot of it boils down to leadership and the issues there.
December 13th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Mike Evans, the future HOFer makes average qbs look good and helps his team win. We already knew this. Can his qb actually throw him catchable passes and not hospital balls so the team can score more?
December 13th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Jmac looked very solid as well. The offense, even though they left points off the board, played good enough to win.
December 13th, 2025 at 2:50 pm
We need a new QB. This one is broken.
ME is a winner and he’s tired of watching the defense scuttle the ship.
It just comes down to how long the Glazers want to go down this sad road.
Bowles was the DC for our 2nd SB title and his defense shut down the Chiefs that day.
Forever thankful for that day and he was a huge part of it.
But he’s not a good HC and his record reflects that reality.
Mike McCarthy is waiting!!!
December 13th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
I was impressed with both ME13 and Jmac…
Baker played OK even though his O-line stinks with the exception of a handful of throws.
This defense is absolutely horrible.
I agree with NCBuc – 3rd and freaking 28!!!
Where was our defensive “guru”?
Learning how to say the “F” word doesn’t mean squat. Get real dude.
December 13th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Hopefully there will be some accountability with all the busted plays. Even if a guy is getting paid a ton of money, why not bench them if the message isnt being heard. Winfield for example was terrible again. Once snith is back, seriously bench Winfield. Needs to happen
December 13th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
NCbucfan Says:
Hate to be a broken record here, but 3rd and 28!!!!!!!!!
^^^^^^^
4-14
What’s worse is we all knew they were going to convert it.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
Can anyone here tell what the narrative is… Lol
December 13th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Mike McCarthy? No thanks
December 13th, 2025 at 3:07 pm
@slypirate, yes we did. The rerun is getting really old!
December 13th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
To all you rah rah rah posters that think Todd’s going to right the ship… My mom used to have a saying ;
Wish in one hand and sh*t in the other and see which one fills up
December 13th, 2025 at 3:17 pm
I think the 1k record helped the team when they were down. Everyone wanted to be apart of that history but Detroit took that away. Defense wanted to get the ball back for it, Baker wanted to throw that pass, Wirfs wanted to block that play, the team wanted to be apart of history. Mike isn’t just a offensive captain, he is a team leader and future HOF’er.
December 13th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
Mike looked great. J-Mac too. Both looked better than I expected. Godwin is leveling up too. EE will greatly benefit from those guys return.
I expected a much better showing from Grizz’s offensive game plans and schemes.
Rachaad has been criminally under utilized…. Where are our hot reads when blitzed?…. What about some roll outs – move the pocket.?….. Play action on 1st down instead of a run for nothing then penalty then 3rd and long – wtf – if I can predict 80% of our plays ahead of time then opposing defenses certainly can 🙄
Defense is lost… D line isn’t controlling LOS. Linebackers (inside and outside) are being abused. Secondary is struggling although Dean is killing it. We can’t get pressure with 4 or even 5 but when we send more they aren’t getting home.
I don’t give a flying fudge anymore…. Clean house or pull off a miracle and start executing and playing angry, proud football. Or just suk. Whatever.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:08 pm
Damn impressive! Stop with a BS about needing a different quarterback. Baker is good enough to win a Super Bowl. Yes he makes mistakes! They all do. The guy at Baltimore, never won a Super Bowl. The guy at Detroit, never got into the Super Bowl.
December 13th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
Evans has had some big games against the Panthers. I don’t think the Bucs will win, but I do think Evans could have a 200 yard game! Bucs need to do everything they can and do what ever Evans wants to get him signed before year end. That last 2 year contract he signed and right after the Bucs were saying he’ll finish his career in Tampa really bothered me. It was like Evans said I want 2 more years and then I’ll retire. Do and pay whatever you get him signed before years end! Dont let him and David walk off together into the sunset this year!
December 13th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Evans would have been over 200 yards and at least one TD had Baker been more accurate. He was over and underthrowing Mike all night, and Evans showed why he’s a future HOF’er in that he still pulled them in. Evans was open on nearly every play – and was literally open every time he was in one-on-one coverage, and if Baker had done better, he might have had a historic night. I joked before the game they should just force feed him the ball, get him 300 yards, at least it would give the offense some purpose – and having watched the game, that is what they should have done. But 300 yards passing as a whole turned out to be impossible with Baker missing everything, even with Evans repeatedly bailing him out.
December 13th, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Baker didn’t miss everything. He had several pinpoint perfect passes in that game and a couple floated on him. And a corner played really smart- defense showed single coverage on Mike on purpose baiting Baker into the throw for an INT. That will happen once in a while. Overall, Baker played well. The guards did *NOT*.
December 13th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
Baker had 4.01 seconds to throw.
By comparison Cousins was 3.01
Two guys playing different sports under pressure.
Cousins under pressure on 19 dropbacks, Baker 16. Cousins 10-18 for 143yds, TD, only sacked once.
Baker 4-10 for 42 yards, 5 sacks
Baker isn’t a good qb.
December 13th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
Bee. “Baker isn’t a good QB”. Think about this for a second Bee. Alot of JBF readers are serious football fans and many have played alot of football. We’ve seen and or played with and against good QBs. Most NFL players and coaches say Baker is a good QB. So my question for you Bee is this. Do you believe there is a single reader on JBL who would decide “Baker isn’t a good qb” because you say so?
December 13th, 2025 at 6:19 pm
The defense sucks. We’re not going to win another game this season.
December 13th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
Rod Munch… The bucs were leading 28-14 well into the 4th. The defense collapsed. Take a Xanax and pull your head out of your a$$. You want people to think you are football knowledgeable? Quit typing.
December 13th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Bee. And don’t say Rod Munch.
December 13th, 2025 at 6:30 pm
Mike and Jmac both looked solid the other night.
Baker struggled with a pocket that consistently collapsed on pass plays and I think all three of them would have put up even better numbers if our O-line had held up a little more.
Clearly, our O is going to have to carry the D for the rest of the season.
Can we win the remaining three? I’m leaning toward yes, because our O is getting healthier and our playmakers are back.
We just need to outscore what our D gives up. And keep Baker upright.
December 13th, 2025 at 6:42 pm
Baker is the sole reason we have 7 wins and not 2-3, he’s carried the team for half the season, maybe lay off the dude and point the finger where it needs to be pointed, the coaches. Fickle morons, the lot of you
December 13th, 2025 at 7:50 pm
Baker has haters on the forum. Yeah he makes mistakes but the haters are insane if they think launching Baker will make Bowles and the D better. The D and Bowles’ general leadership are the main issues. I would say that Licht failed by not getting a competent backup QB in. If they did, Baker would have been sat for the LA and AZ games at a minimum and could have got healthy. I am certain Baker is playing hurt and it has affected his play. A healthy Baker would have beat NO and the ATL despite the D.
December 13th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
This question is for all the idiots here, all 5. Why is it that Mayfield leads the league in scrambling this year? Since you are football idiots and don’t know the answer I’ll give you a hint, it has something to do with the line…………still don’t know? One more hint, the line all year has been struggling…………………………still can’t answer? I figured, par for the course. The line has been bad this year due to injuries and to keep from being sacked and injured worse Mayfield has to use his elite running ability. Remember last year he led the league in scrambling for 1st downs. Probably won us 5 games just with his legs making 1st downs and keeping drives alive and getting a TD out of it instead of punting. Top tier quarterback for sure
December 13th, 2025 at 7:53 pm
Some here always looking for a reason to diminish any successes that BM has. Mike deserves all the credit he gets because he makes play after play when he’s healthy. An incredible talent! But so are Lamb and Pickens for Prescott, Chase and Higgins for Burrow, Pacua and Adams for Stafford, etc etc. They all make great plays for their quarterbacks.
December 13th, 2025 at 8:25 pm
The only reason our defense shut down Kansas City was that they were missing 4 starters from their offensive line and Mahoney was running for his life. This year we are so bad that we can’t even take advantage of a 3rd string right tackle (Saints). Reddick was stonewalled by the guy who will probably be working construction again when the starter comes back.
December 13th, 2025 at 8:28 pm
Be careful what you ask for. The Bucs have won the NFC South in what looks like will be 2 out of 3 years in the BM era with the worst defense in the division in each year.
December 13th, 2025 at 8:29 pm
I hope mike evans finishes his career in tampa season is over bucs ain’t the dodgers
December 13th, 2025 at 8:29 pm
30th, 30th and so far this year 32nd in yards allowed against the pass!
December 13th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
Maybe Tom Moore should head coach 2026 – sit on the sidelines in BA’s cart. Both Lavonte and Evans retire to coach defense and offense under Moore.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
BayouBullet Says:
December 13th, 2025 at 6:26 pm
Rod Munch… The bucs were leading 28-14 well into the 4th.
————
Well, 3 minutes into the 4th quarter, not sure I’d call that “well” into the 4th. But in any case, here’s a fun fact for you.
DID you know… Jameis Winston never threw a 4th quarter INT in a game where the Bucs lead by 14 in the 4th quarter!
So congrats to Baker, who looked in playoff form.
And by that I mean with 2 mins left in the Detroit playoff game, he had the ball in his hands, all 3 timeouts, in a single score game – chance to be a legend – then promptly throws a pick 2 plays later. Then in the Redskins game, the defense makes a huge 4th quarter goal line stand, gives the ball back to Baker with a chance to go up two scores and win the game… and he promptly turns it over, losing the game. That’s the same Baker we’ve seen the last two games. Vs the Saints, a terrible team, has the ball with 2 minutes left, chance to win the game, and he goes 4 and out, throwing a 3 yard pass on 4th and 4. Then, vs the Falcons, chance to go up scores, put the game away in the 4th quarter, with 1st place in the division on the line — he throws a completely inexcusable INT. Has the ball again, with another chance to put the game away, and misses an easy pass that basically ends the game. A huge fall from week 6 MVP.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:17 pm
The blocking was so bad there were plays where the whole defensive line with the exception of Wirfs guy was 10 yards deep on top of Mayfield in less than 2 seconds. It is just ridiculous.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:22 pm
It’s like the announcers said, it is obvious Baker is hurt but even our 5 Mayfield hating “fans” don’t want to admit that fact. I guess when you crave to run down your teams quarterback you’ll say anything even lie to make him look bad. Thank goodness the only people that matter, the coaches know. I’m just glad the idiots opinions don’t matter.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
Cousins an old back up, put up almost 400 yards on us. Need a person say more
December 13th, 2025 at 9:29 pm
Interesting to note that the Bucs finished 11th in yards allowed against the pass and 15th against the run in 2022, had Mike Evans and Chris for a combined 30 games and finished 8-9. The defense has fallen so far over the last 3 years finishing 30th, 30th and this year 32nd so far in yards allowed against the pass and yet have remained competitive. Hopefully the defense has hit rock bottom and can be rebuilt. It would be foolish to think the offense can’t be so much better next year. They just need to get healthy and build some depth along the offensive line. There is hope for the future.
December 13th, 2025 at 9:46 pm
You cry babies can blame Mayfield all you want but he put up as many points injured as anyone other than Seattle and we allowed Atlanta to score more on us than anyone else allowed. We have a defense problem CASE CLOSED
December 13th, 2025 at 10:54 pm
Brian Flores please
December 14th, 2025 at 12:25 am
Don’t rush him back……said some idiot posters on this here site.