Evans delivers on winning TD catch
Ira Kaufman, The Tampa Tribune, published 7 December 2015

In keeping with the uneven nature of his second NFL season, Bucs WR Mike Evans was up-and-down on Sunday.

But with the game on the line, Jameis Winston’s 6-foot-5 target came up big, grabbing the go-ahead touchdown pass from six yards out with only 99 seconds remaining in Tampa Bay’s 23-19 victory against the Falcons at Raymond James Stadium.

Plagued by a flurry of dropped balls all year, Evans beat LB Paul Worrilow to the right sideline as Winston rolled right and bought time until Evans broke clear.

“Jameis made the play of the year on that third-and-long run, and then he made a great throw to me,’’ said Evans, who finished with 61 yards on five receptions. “It was the same way we drew it up in practice. I was the inside receiver, we got the matchup we wanted and I outran him.’’

Late in the second quarter, Winston’s short pass sailed high and skipped off the hands of Evans to CB Desmond Trufant at midfield, setting up an Atlanta field goal and a 9-7 halftime lead.

“First off, (Evans) is a great player,’’ Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “Great players go through some adversity, some struggles, but if you keep fighting the way Mike has, you get out of it.’’