Bucs rally to win NFC South; late catch gives Evans 1K yards - ESPN

TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield used his legs and arm to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch their fourth straight NFC South title while putting Mike Evans over 1,000 yards receiving yet again.

Mayfield fired a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan for the go-ahead score and then scrambled 28 yards for a crucial first down on the next drive, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Evans caught a 9-yard pass on the final play of the game to surpass 1,000 yards for the 11th straight season, tying Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history.

Earlier in the fourth quarter, after Mayfield's long scramble on third-and-14 from the Tampa Bay 12, the Buccaneers drove to the Saints' 11. Mayfield looked for Evans but then flipped the ball backward to Bucky Irving, who ran 11 yards for the TD that made it 27-19.

The Saints turned the ball over on downs and the Buccaneers got one more chance to get Evans the milestone. Mayfield tossed a short pass to Evans, who ran upfield for a 9-yard gain. He got up, spiked the ball and was mobbed by teammates in a wild celebration.

Evans also received a $3 million escalator for reaching 1,000 yards again.

«No turnovers and get the ball to 13,» Mayfield told Fox of the final play to Evans. «Get him his record because he deserves that.

»The most important thing is winning, but for that guy, it's important for everybody, not just for me. We love him, we're lucky to have him, and I can't say how proud I am of him."

The Buccaneers will be the NFC's No. 3 seed in the playoffs if the Los Angeles Rams lose to Seattle. If the Rams win, Tampa Bay will be the fourth seed.

Mayfield threw for 212 yards and two TDs and had a career-high 68 yards rushing as the Buccaneers