When the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off this Sunday, Marshon Lattimore and Mike Evans won’t be lining up against each other. There’s a lot on the line, yet Lattimore’s absence leaves a key part of this matchup missing. The debate on whether there’s a rivalry between these teams has subsided over the years, but there was never a debate about the players. Lattimore versus Evans is a rivalry and a major source of trash talk between fan bases.
More than just trash talk the multiple fights have led to this being must watch TV nationally. Since Lattimore entered the league in 2017, there have been 14 games between Tampa and New Orleans. Lattimore has missed two of those games and surprisingly Evans’ numbers still aren’t great. Evans averages 64 receiving yards and 4 catches when Lattimore misses the game.
It’ll be on Paulson Adebo and Isaac Yiadom to ensure that trend continues.
Tampa will use Evans to stretch the field, and Baker Mayfield will undoubtedly target him vertically. Lattimore versus Evans is always a treat to watch for the play on the field and the extracurricular activity. Keep your eyes on Evans despite Lattimore’s absence, possibly because of it. If he has a good day, the Buccaneers more than likely will too.
The Saints and Buccaneers face off in Week 17, but we won’t see Lattimore vs. Evans. It just doesn’t feel right.
