The Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned the New Orleans Saints over on downs to seal their Week 18 win that gave them the NFC South title and the final playoff berth in the NFC. 

With just seconds left to tick off in the fourth quarter Sunday, one would think quarterback Baker Mayfield would assume victory formation and kneel out the win. But he had another thing in mind. 

He wanted his favorite target to make NFL history and make $3 million in incentives in the process. 

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Every Tampa Bay fan knew Mike Evans entered this game needing five catches and 85 yards to earn a $3 million bonus. 

The yards specifically would make NFL history, too, as Evans would become the first player to ever start their career with 11 1,000-yard seasons. It would also tie the great Jerry Rice’s all-time record with 11 consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards. 

BAKER MAYFIELD LEADS BUCS TO 4TH QUARTER COMEBACK OVER SAINTS TO WIN NFC SOUTH TITLE

When the Bucs took the ball over at the end of the game, Evans had eight catches but only 80 yards. He needed five more to set a new NFL record and also earn himself a pretty penny on top of his regular game check. 

So, instead of just kneeling it out, Mayfield dropped back, threw quickly to his left and Evans picked up nine yards to finish with nine catches for 89 yards to hit the mark. 

Evans launched the ball into the sky and rookie teammate Jalen McMillan immediately ran over to him to celebrate as the entire Raymond James Stadium crowd freaked out, knowing Evans got what everyone wanted to see. The rest of Evans’ Bucs teammates ran over to congratulate him as he walked off the field. 

"I was hoping we’d get a stop because I can’t pass up history," Evans said after the game, per Yahoo Sports. "Coach Bowles didn’t want to let it pass up or [offensive coordinator Liam Coen]. I’m happy that they had me go out there and get that, because this has been hard to do for 11 straight years, and to be tied with one of [the greatest, if not the greatest, receiver] of all time means a lot to me."

Mayfield added, "That was what we came up with, and Mike did the rest. He deserves that. This guy means so much to the community, this team, this organization for years. For him to be able to reach that feat 11 years in a row and tie Jerry Rice, it’s unbelievable."

So, Evans finishes his 11th NFL season, all with the Bucs, with 1,004 receiving yards. And his efforts helped his squad reach the playoffs, where they will be the No. 4 seed in the NFC.

It’s also worth noting that Evans will be seeing a $666,666 incentive for finishing in the top 10 in wide receiver touchdowns across the NFL.

The Bucs, now winners of the NFC South for a fourth consecutive season, await the loser of the Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings matchup later on Sunday, as they would assume the No. 5 seed.

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It came down to the wire, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints in a thriller, 27-19, to win the NFC South. 

Coming into this contest, the Bucs knew they had a win-and-in position, as the Atlanta Falcons needed to defeat the Carolina Panthers and hope for a Tampa Bay loss to sneak into the playoffs as the division winner. 

But Tampa Bay is heading to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the NFC, and they will host the Washington Commanders in the wild-card round next weekend.

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It might have been a jubilation at Raymond James Stadium at the final whistle, but there were a lot of nervous Bucs fans when halftime came around and the Spencer Rattler-led Saints owned a 16-6 lead. 

The Saints were playing in their first game since the senseless act of violence took place in New Orleans’ French Quarter in the wee hours of New Year’s Day, a terror attack that killed 14 and left many more injured. 

A moment of silence was held for all those in the New Orleans community before kickoff, where a true show of patriotism was captured on the Fox Sports broadcast. 

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And it was all New Orleans to start this game, as they scored on each of their first four drives – three field goals and a touchdown pass by Rattler to Dante Pettis. 

Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield and the Bucs were trying to find something, and they got exactly what they needed to begin the second half. Mayfield orchestrated a 10-play, 72-yard drive that ended in a Peyton Durham touchdown to finally get the Bucs a touchdown on the day. The 16-13 deficit was more than manageable. 

However, the Saints’ defense wasn’t helping matters, as they were pesky and forced a Mayfield interception despite the Bucs’ defense getting a three-and-out after their touchdown. 

After adding another field goal, the Saints owned a 19-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter where the Bucs entered desperation mode. Luckily for them, Mayfield wasn’t fazed. 

Early in the fourth quarter, Mayfield stepped up in a collapsing pocket and delivered an absolute strike to Jalen McMillan, who kept two feet in the front right of the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown to give the Bucs a 20-19 lead after the extra point. 

Then, the icing on the cake was a broken play that resulted in a Bucky Irving 11-yard rush for the touchdown. 

The Bucs ultimately turned the Saints over on downs on their final drive, and with just seconds left to play, Tampa Bay and its fan base were celebrating the division title and the victory. 

But what made this win even more special was what the Bucs did with their final snap of the game, as veteran receiver Mike Evans needed five catches and 85 yards to reach a $3 million incentive while also becoming the first player in NFL history to have reached 1,000 receiving yards in his first 11 seasons. 

Evans, who was stuck at eight catches for 80 yards, caught a pass for nine yards from Mayfield and he launched the ball in the air after getting tackled, knowing he just made NFL history and $3 million. 

Looking at the stat sheet, Mayfield finished 21-of-32 for 221 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, with Evans catching nine passes for 89 yards. Irving finished with 89 rushing yards on 19 carries. 

For the Saints, Rattler was 26-for-42 for 240 yards with his one touchdown pass, while tight end Juwan Johnson led the way with six catches for 80 yards. 

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Once again, the NFC South division title is going to come down to the wire for the four teams involved, meaning a win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – the leaders entering Week 17 – was crucial on Sunday. 

Baker Mayfield was up to the task. 

Mayfield delivered five touchdown passes, including two to trusty receiver Mike Evans, to lead the Bucs over the Carolina Panthers, 48-14, at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. 

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The Bucs improved to 9-7 on the season, and they will be watching "Sunday Night Football" intently as the Atlanta Falcons, who sit behind them in the division at 8-7, are on the road against the Washington Commanders. 

Mayfield was having one of those days when it seemed no matter where the ball needed to be for his receivers, he got it there with pinpoint accuracy and strength. 

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He was 27-of-32 through the air for 359 yards with his five touchdown passes that began immediately when Evans capped the opening drive with a quick slant in the end zone for six points. Evans had eight catches for 97 yards to lead the Bucs through the air. 

But Mayfield also found rookie wideout Jalen McMillan for two second-half touchdowns, as he continues to prove in this back half of the season that his quarterback can trust him in his inaugural season. He had five catches for 51 yards with the two scores.

And finally, Payne Durham, one of the tight ends picking up the slack for the injured Cade Otton, found pay dirt with one of his two catches on the day.

No one was able to get in on the ground for the Bucs, but it was Bucky Irving leading the charge there with 113 yards on 20 carries to set the tone. 

The day also saw some special teams magic as the Bucs blocked a Panthers punt that J.J. Russell scooped up and ran back for a touchdown as part of Tampa Bay’s 21-0 second-half rout of their divisional foe. 

Bryce Young and the Panthers initially matched the Bucs’ firepower to start the game, as Adam Thielen caught a touchdown pass on their opening drive to make it a 7-7 ballgame. Thielen would get another from Young later in the game as part of his five-catch, 110-yard day. 

However, Tampa Bay’s defense turned it up in the second half, stopping any attempt from the Panthers to get back into the game. 

Overall, Young finished 15-of-28 through the air for 203 yards with his two touchdowns to Thielen. 

The Bucs head into Week 18 to face a depleted New Orleans Saints team, and they will hope the Falcons can pick up a loss somewhere in the next two weeks with Atlanta owning the season tiebreaker over them.

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The Dallas Cowboys threw a wrench into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South division title hopes on Sunday thanks to clutch plays from the defense when it mattered the most.

Crucial Buccaneers drives were stopped dead in its tracks. In the fourth quarter, Baker Mayfield was intercepted in the end zone by Jourdan Lewis. Then, as the Buccaneers tried to final some last-minute gusto, saw running back Rachaad White get stripped by DaRon Bland.

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The two fourth quarter turnovers helped Dallas solidify a 26-24 win.

Cooper Rush was 26-of-35 with 292 passing yards and a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. CeeDee Lamb had seven catches for 105 yards. But the story of the game was the defense.

Mayfield was sacked four times to go along with the interception and White’s fumble. He had 304 passing yards and two touchdown passes but struggled to find a consistent rhythm.

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Chauncey Golston, Micah Parsons, Donovan Wilson and Linval Joseph each had a sack.

The Cowboys were only held to three points in the second half but did enough to crush Tampa Bay’s hopes when it mattered the most.

Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention before the game started but they were determined enough to make it more difficult for Tampa Bay to win the NFC South.

The Buccaneers fell to 8-7 and are behind the Falcons despite having the same record. Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay twice this season.

With two games left in the regular season, the Buccaneers have the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints left on the schedule.

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Baker Mayfield developed a reputation for being a hard-nosed player and a bit of trash-talker when he was slinging the pill at the University of Oklahoma on his way to a Heisman Trophy.

Mayfield may have been the one to start the flag-planting tradition when he took the Sooners’ flag and put it into the ground in the middle of Ohio State’s field in 2017 after a win.

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After a swath of fights over players trying to plant flags on their opponents’ fields, Mayfield defended players for the attempts.

"I’ll say this: OU-Texas does it every time they play," Mayfield said after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers narrowly defeated the Carolina Panthers, 26-23, in overtime on Sunday. "It’s not anything special. You take your ‘L’ and you move on. I’ll leave it at that."

Mayfield didn’t seem to agree that flag-planting should be banned either.

"College football’s meant to have rivalries. It’s like the Big 12 banning the ‘Horns down’ signal," he said. "Let the boys play."

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Incidents took place Saturday following Michigan vs. Ohio State, Florida vs. Florida State, North Carolina vs. N.C. State and Arizona vs. Arizona State. Though the Arizona-Arizona State game involved the Sun Devils’ pitchfork and not a flag.

The Big Ten Conference levied the biggest discipline so far – $100,000 fines each against Michigan and Ohio State.

"The Big Ten Conference has determined that the actions of both teams following the Michigan-Ohio State football game on Saturday, November 30, 2024, violated the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy," the conference said in a statement. "Not only did the actions of both teams violate fundamental elements of sportsmanship such as respect and civility, the nature of the incident also jeopardized the safety of participants and bystanders."

"As a result of these violations, the Big Ten Conference has issued an institutional fine to both the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University in the amount of $100,000 each," the statement continued.

"The Big Ten Conference considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield filed a lawsuit against his own father for $12 million stemming from an apparent contract issue with his dad's company.

Mayfield accused his father's company, Canwood Capital, of transferring the money from Mayfield and his wife "without authorization" from 2018 to 2021.

According to the lawsuit, the two parties reached a settlement in January in which Mayfield's father, James, would pay nearly all of it back, but Mayfield says he has not received any of it.

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The first payment of $250,000 was due on Sept. 30, but Mayfield never got it, the suit says.

"Once Plaintiffs began to uncover Defendants' misconduct and sought answers to explain the taking of their assets, Defendants attempted to obscure the relevant information, avoided Plaintiffs' inquiries, and invented fictional explanations for their actions…" the suit read.

"It is now clear that Defendants had no intention of making Plaintiffs whole when they entered into the Settlement Agreement. To date, Canwood Capital has not repaid even one dollar under the Settlement Agreement, Defendants have failed to refinance their existing loan, and Defendants have not provided Plaintiffs with access to their books and records… In other words, Defendants have satisfied none of their obligations and have refused even to respond to Plaintiffs' outreaches about those breaches."

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The Mayfields say they have "no choice" but to file this new lawsuit — nine pages long and files in U.S. District Court in the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas.

Fox News Digital reached out to James Mayfield's company for comment.

Mayfield is in his second season with the Buccaneers, succeeding on a one-year prove-it deal last year to earn himself a three-year, $100 million pact.

Mayfield's Bucs just walloped the lowly New York Giants, 30-7, when Mayfield admitted to making a "tribute" to Tommy DeVito with an Italian-hand gesture following a rushing touchdown.

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The post-Daniel Jones era is not off to a hot start.

The New York Giants released the sixth pick of the 2019 NFL Draft after he requested it; the Giants demoted Jones to QB4 this week.

Tommy DeVito got the nod, and he got a decent hand from the crowd, but the excitement was short-lived, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran them out of their own building with a 30-7 win.

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The Bucs opened the game by scoring 30 unanswered points. Sean Tucker, Bucky Irving, and Baker Mayfield all rushed for touchdowns, and the quarterback let everyone know about it.

After Mayfield's touchdown, he gave the crowd the infamous Italian-hand gesture. DeVito made it a staple of his last year, instantly becoming a fan-favorite as a local kid of Italian descent.

The fans gave the hand gesture as DeVito took the field for the first time on Sunday – ask and you shall receive.

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Giants team owner John Mara said the parties mutually agreed to let Jones go.

"Daniel has been a great representative of our organization, first class in every way. His handling of this situation yesterday exemplifies just that. We are all disappointed in how things have worked out. We hold Daniel in high regard and have a great appreciation for him. We wish him nothing but the best in the future," Mara said in a statement.

Jones, less than two years after signing a four-year, $160 million deal, leaves the Giants with a 24-44-1 record in the regular season and 1-1 record in the playoffs. 

The Giants are now 2-9 on the season as they continue the trek to the No. 1 pick in 2025.

Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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