The Bucs had a litany of players make key contributions in their 38-3 win over the Bears, but nobody was more impactful than Mike Evans. On Sunday, the Bucs captain finished the game with six catches for 76 yards and three touchdowns. Those scores included quarterback Tom Brady’s 600th career touchdown pass. Evans battled through double coverage most of the night, but still managed to find the end zone multiple times.
After the game, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians was asked about Evans’ performance.
“Yeah, I think both of them were actually double.” Arians said. “He beat the double coverage on the deep-in. And he beat the double-coverage on the fade, which was a great throw, but an unbelievable catch. The other one, they actually bracketed him inside-out. Tom just stuck it on him and a big, physical guy just took the shot and scored.”
Evans’ first touchdown came on a post pattern with Jaylon Johnson in coverage. He used a stutter step release with a club to get open, and Brady put it in the perfect spot. Met at the goal line by safety DeAndre Houston-Carson, Evans muscled his way into the end zone for his first score of the night and Brady’s 600th touchdown pass.
6️⃣0️⃣0️⃣
📺: #CHIvsTB on CBS pic.twitter.com/HWHO0lqJvK
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 24, 2021
Later in the game, Evans’ second touchdown was set up by play-action. Evans overpowered Johnson early in the route to gain position on the nine route. A perfect ball from Brady set the Bucs up at the Bears 2-yard line.
Tom Brady to Mike Evans for 46 yards… gets it down to the 2 for first and goal.
Brady later hits Evans gain for a short touchdown and a 28-3 lead.
3 first half touchdowns for Brady and 601 in the regular season.pic.twitter.com/Lic461ceA0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 24, 2021
This time Brady hit Evans with perfect timing on a back-shoulder throw. The receiver boxed out Johnson, who’s draped all over him, making a difficult catch for the score.
Mike Evans managers are having fun 😁 pic.twitter.com/XcdDmImGeg
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 24, 2021
For his third score of the night, Evans used an outside release before swimming back inside the cornerback. Brady hit him with a rope on the post pattern in the back of the end zone, and Evans made a great hands catch.
Mike Evans has three touchdowns.
Chicago has three points 👀#TBvsCHI pic.twitter.com/eQqf9O0F32
— PFF Bet (@PFF_Bet) October 24, 2021
After the game Brady talked about Evans ability to get open when facing double coverage.
“He got a lot of double coverage,” Brady said. “He got open on the deep route which was great. Caught the ball on the fade. He just does a great job, I mean he is an incredible receiver. He’s so gifted in every way. He’s quick, he’s tough, he’s strong, he’s physical. He just does an incredible job for us. Out there every day at practice just doing everything he can to help the team win.”
Evans has 37 receptions on the year for 496 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s on pace for over 1,200 yards and to break his own single season touchdown record (13). The wide receiver faces a tough test in Marshon Lattimore next Sunday when the Bucs face the Saints.