The bright lights of playoff football will be shining on Raymond James Stadium on Sunday night, but the Wild Card showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders isn’t the only marquee matchup.
For the second time this year, Mike Evans will be going up against Marshon Lattimore and the stakes haven’t been this high in a while. The duo battled back in the 2020 NFC Divisional Round but it was a matchup the Buccaneers came out on top in.
That’s not what anyone remembers about the times Evans and Lattimore have battled, as things usually end in a fight and ejections. It’s a precedent that has been set thanks to flare ups in the past and has set the stage for what should be an epic duel.
Lattimore might not be in New Orleans anymore, but he’s wasting no time in getting a head start on some trash talk like we’re used to seeing.
Marshon Lattimore sends a message to Mike Evans ahead of Wild Card matchup
In the spirit of the rivalry, Lattimore showed up to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday wearing a shirt that had ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’ written on the back. This is in reference to the idea the Buccaneers view a matchup between Lattimore and Evans as a favorable one.
#Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore arrives in Tampa Bay in a shirt that says “Be Careful What You Wish For”
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) January 12, 2025
🔥🔥🔥
(via:@JPFinlayNBCS) pic.twitter.com/P0GmaRDWrN
The matchup comes on the heels of Evans making history against Lattimore’s former secondary. Tampa Bay beat the Saints last Sunday to clinch the NFC South title, but on the last play of the game Evans secured a catch to break the 1,000 yard mark for an 11th straight season.
It’s hard to believe that had Lattimore been playing, the catch would have been as easy as it seemed. Then again, Evans has managed to get the best of his rival more than a few times, which is what Bucs fans are hoping for on Sunday night.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag as far as history being on Tampa Bay’s side. Evans has averaged just 47 yards against Lattimore since they’ve been going at it, but that’s also impacted by matchups that were shortened thanks to ejections.
Overall, Lattimore has a 7-5 record in games against Evans, but Evans owns a 1-0 record against his rival in the playoffs.
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