The Bucs sorely missed wide receiver Mike Evans in Week 3 when they fell to the Packers 14-12. But fresh off his one-game suspension, the Pro Bowl wide out made his presence felt in Tampa Bay’s 41-31 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.

On a night when he became the Bucs’ all time leader in yards from scrimmage, Evans scored two touchdowns and was a pivotal part of the offense. On his catch that propelled him up the leaderboard, Evans ran a seam route and found the soft spot in coverage. Quarterback Tom Brady rifled a pass deep down the middle of the field, finding his No. 1 receiver for a 30-yard gain.

Four plays later, Brady would find Evans again on a 13-yard post route to score the Bucs’ first touchdown of the game. The All-Pro quarterback threw a bullet to Evans, who absorbed a big hit from Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill in the end zone. He was able to hold on to the ball and put the team back in it down 21-10.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Evans Helps Bucs Make It A Game Before Halftime

Evans’ second touchdown of the game was set up by another big play. Trailing 28-10 with less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Brady and the offense began marching down the field. A 16-yard gain by Evans with just 28 seconds left set the Bucs up at the 16-yard line. A defensive pass interference call on the next play would give Tampa Bay the ball at the 1-yard line. Two plays later, it was Evans again with a diving back shoulder fade to put six more points on the board.

Though Evans wouldn’t find the endzone again, he played a major part on the Bucs’ next scoring drive. An unnecessary roughness call on a hit to Evans by Juan Thornhill in the back of the endzone set the offense up at the 2-yard line. Rookie running back Rachaad White plunged in the end zone three plays later to bring the Bucs back within two scores.

Those plays and others where Evans’ presence allowed other receivers to face favorable matchups made it clear that he is this week’s game changer.