It came down to the final minute of the Bucs’ regular season, but it was destiny. When wide receiver Mike Evans, the best offensive player in team history, hauled in a nine-yard pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield with 36 seconds left, he made NFL history as well.

Once upon a time, it did not seem like Evans would get his 1,000 receiving yards.

After suffering a hamstring injury against the Ravens that kept him out of action for three games, he needed 665 receiving yards over the final seven games in order to keep his historic run alive. That meant averaging 95 yards a game down the stretch coming off the injury, and it was a total that he had yet to reach in his first seven games of the year.

It was no small task doing what he did, and it was a team effort to get him the ball. Evans put it best after the game, saying he was going to get it “no matter what.” Head coach Todd Bowles and quarterback Baker Mayfield as well as every fan in the stands at Raymond James Stadium wanted to see him make history and it was just as big of a discussion point as the Bucs beating the Saints 27-19 to remain kings of the NFC South and clinch the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.

Baker Mayfield On Mike Evans Getting 1,000 Yards: “He Deserves That”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield did not want to be the quarterback that ended Mike Evans’ 1,000-yard streak.

Throughout the game, Mayfield and the offense got Evans involved as he chipped away at the yards he needed. After running back Bucky Irving scampered into the endzone with less than two minutes left in the game, it was a time of celebration as the Bucs looked to seal up the game.

Still, the quarterback’s first reaction to Irving’s touchdown run was –”shit.”

“We won the game, great,” Mayfield joked. “But now I’m going to be the guy that didn’t get the 1,000 yards so now [Mike Evans] is going to have play 11 more years after that if we’re going to get him that. No, but obviously the important thing is winning. All jokes aside, the most important thing is winning. But you have a little second on the sideline there to realize you’re that close to it and God is great, got us the ball back, defense got us a stop and so we were able to get one more play to him.”

Thankfully the defense came through and forced a turnover on downs to set the mood and buildup to one last play.

“The conversation was like ‘alright, well, obviously we can’t turn the ball over, can’t give them another chance, but how do we want to [format] this play to get Mike [Evans] the ball to where he can’t get double covered?’” Mayfield said. “That was what we came up with and Mike [Evans] did the rest. And he deserves that because this guy means so much to the community, this team, this organization, for years. For him to be able to reach that feat 11 years in a row and tie Jerry Rice is – it’s unbelievable.”

Unbelievable is the right word.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Evans has long put the team first and chose to re-sign with them over the offseason after the organization has long taken care of him. Getting him the ball late was a chance to reciprocate the love the team has for the future Hall of Famer.

“He always has [put the team first],” Mayfield said of the wide receiver he often calls a stud. “That’s why you love him. That’s why we appreciate having him. We’re lucky to have him and he’s underappreciated throughout the media, the league and he’s one of one. He deserves that. Obviously, you saw the stadium erupt, the sideline erupt. You can tell how much people care about him and what that means for everybody around him.”

Head coach Todd Bowles echoed a similar sentiment after the game.

“We did a good job of getting it to him,” Bowles said. “He’s earned it. He’s done everything for this organization and this team and we’re happy for him.”

Mike Evans Was “In The Moment” After Making History

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch P/R

Mike Evans was hoping for a defensive stop at the end of the game just as much as Todd Bowles was, and argubably more. There was still history for M1K3 to make. Instead of running out the clock, Bowles and offensive coordinator Liam Coen made sure Evans got the ball – and a $3 million incentive, too.

“I was hoping we would get a stop because I can’t pass up history and Coach Bowles didn’t want to let it pass up or Liam [Coen], so I’m happy they had me go out there and get that because it’s been hard to do for 11 straight years and to be tied with one of the, if not the greatest receiver of all time – it means a lot to me and my family,” Evans said.

Was he nervous at all that he wouldn’t get there?

“I knew I was going to get it,” Evans added. “I was getting that no matter what. I knew we [were] going to get this ball no matter what. After we got the ball back, I knew I was getting it. So, I looked at Coach Bowles and Liam [Coen] and they said, ‘Go out there – we are going to try and get you this record.’ So, I wasn’t worried at all.”

It was a grind for him to have the chance to go out there and make it happen. It was only made possible by him working hard to recover from one of the worst hamstring injuries he’s ever suffered. Then, the 31-year-old wide receiver had to finish the season strong and produce more than he had all season.

All of those factors made this milestone that much more enjoyable to reach for him.

Bucs WRs Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

“It makes it that much sweeter,” Evans said. “Missing time, it was a grind to get back – it really was. This was probably my worst hamstring injury since my rookie season. I got hurt in OTAs and I was out for like 6 weeks. This is probably like my second-worst hamstring injury I’ve had in my life.

“Bobby [Slater] and the training staff did a hell of a job getting me back. He was telling me, every time I was outside running in that heat and running all of [those] sprints, he kept saying, ‘We are going to get [these] 1,000 yards and we are going to the playoffs.’ I just stuck with it, and we got it done.”

It was the best of both worlds on Sunday afternoon as the Bucs clinched a spot in the postseason and Mike Evans kept his streak of 1,000-yard seasons intact. Reflecting on the decision to re-up with Tampa Bay in the offseason on a two-year deal, Evans is happy to be where it started and to keep producing for the only place he has called – and will likely ever call – home.

“It feels great,” Evans said about staying where it all started. “I mean, I probably was never going to leave Tampa anyway. The business part took over a little bit, but I’m happy to be here and I definitely made the right decision.”

It was the right decision for him to stay, and the team made the right decision to make him and the fanbase happy with the call to get him the ball. The only ones who did not leave Raymond James Stadium happy were Saints fans, which is joy to general manager Jason Licht’s ears.