Mike Evans explains frustrated outburst following Buccaneers' loss

Following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Thursday Night Football loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15, receiver Mike Evans was seen yelling while walking off the field, repeatedly exclaiming "Third-and-28," referencing the seemingly insurmountable situation that the Atlanta offense overcame before kicking the game-winning field goal. On Wednesday, he explained his frustration more. 

An understandably calmer Evans explained that, despite screaming that, he wasn't solely blaming the defense for the loss. 

"I was extra emotional my first game back," he said, in a video shared by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times on X (formerly Twitter). "We lost the game as a team. It was just third-and-28 was the last thing that happened, and it just stuck in my brain. We gotta finish that on offense. Twenty-eight points isn't good enough."

To be clear, the frustration directed at the defense wasn't out of place. While the Falcons picked up half of the needed yardage on the third-and-28, they still picked up a low percentage fourth-and-14 on the following play before gaining another 11 yards to get well inside of kicker Zane Gonzalez's range. That failure is definitely on Tampa's defense. 

That said, Evans is also right in that the Buccaneers could have added to their lead on offense. Leading 28-20, the Buccaneers had a chance to put the drive away with a long scoring drive. Instead, quarterback Baker Mayfield was intercepted, giving the Falcons the ball deep in Tampa territory. Leading 28-26 later in the quarters, the Buccaneers also could have iced the game by picking up two first downs. They only picked up one, giving Atlanta the ball back with just under two minutes to play. 

Fortunately for Evans and the Buccaneers, the two most important games of the season lie ahead. With three games to play, Tampa is tied with the Carolina Panthers for first place in the NFC South. The two teams will play in Week 16 in Carolina, then again in Week 18 in Tampa. The Buccaneers will likely be well-positioned to win the division with even a split of those games, while sweeping them will guarantee the division for either team.