Red Zone Masterclass: Mike Evans Hauls in Clutch TD to Stun Ford Field
DETROIT, MI — Mike Evans doesn’t care about the noise. With Ford Field shaking and the Detroit Lions secondary suffocating the perimeter, Evans did what he has done for a decade: he found the ball. His 2-yard touchdown reception in the closing minutes of the first half didn’t just tie the game; it reminded everyone that the Buccaneers weren’t going away quietly.
CJ Stroud helped Joey Porter Jr. get his jersey off 😅 pic.twitter.com/LBgWmvxGeu
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2026
Mayfield and Evans: The Connection Deepens
Baker Mayfield faced a collapsing pocket on 3rd-and-goal, but he never looked anywhere else. He fired a low-velocity strike into a window no wider than a microwave. Evans adjusted his 6-foot-5 frame, shielded the defender with his shoulder, and secured the ball before hitting the turf. It was a professional’s catch—minimal wasted movement, maximum result.
The Buccaneers’ offense struggled early with the Lions’ blitz packages, but Evans became the ultimate safety valve. He exploited Detroit’s man coverage throughout the afternoon, finishing with 117 receiving yards on eight catches. Every time Tampa Bay needed a first down to kill the Lions’ momentum, Mayfield looked for number 13.
By The Numbers: Evans vs. Detroit
- Targets: 12
- Receptions: 8
- Receiving Yards: 117
- Touchdowns: 1
- Longest Catch: 29 yards
What They Said
“You give Mike a chance, and he’s going to come down with it. That touchdown was all about his strength. He’s the most reliable target I’ve ever played with in those tight-window situations.” — Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers QB
“He’s a future Hall of Famer for a reason. We knew they’d go to him in the red zone, and he still made the play. You have to tip your cap to a guy who performs like that in this atmosphere.” — Dan Campbell, Lions Head Coach
What This Means for Tampa Bay
While the Buccaneers ultimately fell short in a 31-23 loss, the Evans-Mayfield connection solidified itself as the foundation for the team’s future. Evans enters the offseason as one of the most coveted potential free agents, though his performance tonight makes a massive extension in Tampa Bay look like a necessity. For Detroit, this play served as a wake-up call that their secondary remains the “Achilles’ heel” that could haunt them in the NFC Championship game against the 49ers.
