The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints have developed one of the most intense division rivalries in the NFL.
Games between these teams are always entertaining, and there always seems to be something that pops up that makes them all the more exciting.
Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore tend to help make this rivalry more emotionally charged, as they tend to get into scraps on the field.
Both players have been ejected during games due to their antics, but that type of behavior might be coming to an end.
Evans has seemingly worked on his frustrations, and as he said via Rick Stroud on X, he’s not going to let this get in the way of the Buccaneers’ success.
“I’ve done a bad job in the past of making it go over the play when I shouldn’t have. But, I’m more mature now and our team is focused on playing winning ball, and you can’t play winning ball when you get kicked out and things like that,” Evans said.
#Bucs WR Mike Evans on the physical nature of playing the Saints and his battle with CB Marshon Lattimore.
“Long as, you know, it’s within the play,” Evans said. “I’ve done a bad job in the past of making it go over the play when I shouldn’t have. But I’m more mature now and…— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) October 9, 2024
The Saints and the Buccaneers are both in a place to compete for the NFC South title, so neither team can afford any unnecessary penalties or frustrating skirmishes between Evans and Lattimore.
With any luck, these two players can put their rivalry to the side and just focus on winning the game.
Lattimore has historically shut down Evans, limiting his impact in the games they’ve played each other.
Will he have the last laugh this week and put up some big numbers?
