Mike Evans is about to have his toughest test of the season yet vs. Broncos

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Mike Evans and Patrick Surtain II will face off for the first time in their careers.

Both are among the NFL's elite at their positions; Evans is on a Hall of Fame trajectory with over a decade of consistent dominance under his belt, while Surtain has been voted to two consecutive Pro Bowls and was named First Team All-Pro in 2022.

It is no secret that Mike Evans relishes the opportunity to go against single man coverage, and he will get his chances against the Broncos and their man-heavy defensive scheme.

"Great challenge. I'm sure he'll be matched on me," said Evans in his press conference earlier this week. "I love when it's just man to man, one-on-one with no help around at all. Just let us play all game one-on-one. That's what I like,"

Mike Evans is about to have his toughest test of the season yet against Patrick Surtain II

Surtain is no stranger to lining up one-on-one against top receivers, and it is safe to say he has earned the respect of his peers across the NFL. On a special for Netflix's original show Receiver earlier this year, Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown all named Surtain as the toughest cornerback to face in the NFL.

So far this season, Surtain has held DK Metcalf and George Pickens to a combined 58 yards on five receptions. But while the numbers are good on paper, Surtain has actually appeared somewhat vulnerable at times this season. Pickens beat Surtain for a 51-yard-catch last weekend, but it was called back due to a holding penalty by the offensive line.

Additionally, Surtain was called for three penalties of his own for a total of 52 yards against the Steelers. His highly physical brand of play creates the potential for holding and pass interference calls, which Evans can use to his advantage to draw crucial penalties downfield.

Surtain has a similar profile to Marshon Lattimore of the New Orleans Saints, who is one of the only corners that has proven he can hold his own against Evans in man coverage. Surtain is every bit as physical as Lattimore, but is taller and heavier which will help in matching up with Evans and his large frame.

Sunday's matchup with Surtain will be among the most challenging of Evans' prolific career. Still, expect Evans to win his fair share of reps and have a strong showing in the matchup. Additionally, Evans will help the offense in ways that don't necessarily appear on the stat sheet. By drawing the attention of Surtain, the hope is that there will be plenty of opportunities for the other pass catchers in the Bucs' arsenal. The rest of the Broncos' secondary is not as strong as Surtain, and there will be plenty of favorable matchups for Baker Mayfield to attack. Chris Godwin has been on an absolute tear to begin the season, and if the Broncos choose to double cover Godwin, the Bucs still have Cade Otton, Trey Palmer and rookie Jalen McMillan.

Mike Evans vs Pat Surtain II will be must-see TV for any footall fan, pinning two perennial Pro Bowlers against each other for the first time in their careers. Don't expect the Bucs to shy away from the matchup, as Baker Mayfield has made it clear he has full trust in his favorite target, regardless of who is lined up on the other side.

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