Mike Evans rips Buccaneers' effort after loss to Dolphins with NFC South up for grabs: 'We didn't deserve it'
- - Mike Evans rips Buccaneers' effort after loss to Dolphins with NFC South up for grabs: 'We didn't deserve it'
Chris Cwik December 30, 2025 at 12:26 AM
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a key opportunity slip through their hands in Week 17. With the NFC South still up for grabs, the team couldn't get it together in a sloppy 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
With the loss, the Buccaneers could have been eliminated from the playoffs. But the team lucked out, as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Carolina Panthers to set up a pivotal Week 18 matchup. Depending on how the Atlanta Falcons perform against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, the winner of the Buccaneers vs. Panthers game in Week 18 could determine the NFC South crown.
The Buccaneers could have put themselves in a much better position with a win over the Dolphins in Week 17. Tampa Bay had at least one major advantage heading into the contest, as rookie Quinn Ewers was making his first NFL start.
Ewers performed well, tossing two touchdowns in the outing. His counterpart, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, struggled, tossing two interceptions and losing a fumble in the loss.
It was a disappointing performance for the Buccaneers, something wideout Mike Evans didn't sugarcoat after the game. Evans told reporters the team "didn't deserve [a win]" in Week 17, adding that the Bucs played like a team that didn't want to be there, per NFL.com.
"We didn't deserve it," said wideout Mike Evans, who caught three of seven targets for 31 yards and a touchdown. "They played like they had a chance at the playoffs, and we played like we were ready to go home."
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Evans didn't turn in a massive performance in the loss, though he wasn't part of the problem. Evans hauled in three catches for 31 yards and a score during the game. He was overshadowed by both Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, both of whom gained over 100 receiving yards on the day.
It wasn't all gloom and doom in the Bucs' locker room after the loss, though. Quarterback Baker Mayfield took a different track, saying the team needs to take advantage of the opportunity it's been given following the Panthers' loss to the Seahawks, per ESPN.
"Here's the thing," Mayfield said after the loss, via the . "We still have a chance next week. We've been blessed with a chance next week, and guys need to handle it the right way. Lavonte (David) spoke to the team after the game and hit the nail on the head, so we've got to respond."
It's possible the Bucs' Week 18 game against the Panthers winds up being a winner-take-all affair. For the Panthers, it already qualifies as that. With a win, Carolina would take the NFC South crown and make the playoffs.
The Bucs' fate depends on the Falcons. If the Bucs and Falcons and Panthers wind up with the same record, the Panthers would win the division based on a tiebreaker. If the Falcons can beat the Rams in Week 17, a scenario exists where the Bucs could beat the Panthers in Week 18 and — if the Falcons also win in Week 18 against the New Orleans Saints — Tampa Bay would miss out on the playoffs.
If the Falcons lose to the Rams on Monday, the Week 18 game between the Bucs and Panthers will be a winner-take-all matchup.
Despite the Buccaneers' miserable performance Sunday, the team can still rally to a division title. But that will only happen if the team finds the motivation it was lacking in Week 17.
Source: “AOL Sports”
