{"id":185824,"date":"2026-03-10T16:09:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T16:09:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/185824\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T16:09:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T16:09:01","slug":"third-and-28-joebucsfan-com-tampa-bay-bucs-blog-buccaneers-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/185824\/","title":{"rendered":"“Third-And-28!” – JoeBucsFan.com – Tampa Bay Bucs Blog, Buccaneers News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The last straw?<\/p>\n

\u201cThird-and-28!\u201d<\/p>\n

That phrase will be remembered for years to come. Decades maybe.<\/p>\n

Like Bucs clich\u00e9s of the past, \u201cPound That Rock!\u201d and \u201cIt\u2019s a Bucs Life,\u201d Joe believes \u201cThird-and-28\u201d will live for a long, long time. And not for anything positive.<\/p>\n

That phrase was first uttered in absolute frustration by now former Bucs receiver Mike Evans. The future Hall of Famer was in disbelief when the Bucs choked away a critical win at home \u2014 when its soft defense couldn\u2019t find a way to get a stop after Atlanta found itself painted into a corner with a third-and-28 pickle. On national television, no less.<\/p>\n

Guys running defenses when that type of stunt is pulled have suffered worse fates than the Bucs\u2019 defensive coordinator that evening, who was retained by the Bucs for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n

Evans came into the tunnel under The Licht House and was unhinged. As he neared the locker room entrance, right in front of Joe at the time, Evans doubled over in complete rage and screamed, \u201cThird-and-28! What are we doing!\u201d<\/p>\n

After Evans announced he was signing with the 49ers today, that memory flashed in Joe\u2019s head. Joe is confident in typing that incident, third-and-28, planted the seed of doubt in Evans\u2019 head that the Bucs\u2019 window as a playoff and\/or a Super Bowl contender was slammed shut.<\/p>\n

Evans, Joe believes, lost all faith in the Bucs\u2019 ability to win or even play moderately decent defense.<\/p>\n

And let\u2019s not forget Evans witnessed with his own eyes the offense collapse in the second half of the season, losing seven of the Bucs\u2019 last nine game.<\/p>\n

That sure didn\u2019t fill Evans with optimism for the near future of the Bucs.<\/p>\n

Joe is also confident there were other factors \u2014 the least of which is his new contract (which won\u2019t be bloated after the State of California swallows a good chuck of it).<\/p>\n

Joe also believes Evans\u2019 lost faith in the Bucs\u2019 ability to win because of the constant revolving door at offensive coordinator. It had to wear on him.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be real: What is known about Zac Robinson other than he worked for Sean McVay? Is he the offensive coordinator who guided Atlanta to the sixth-best offense in the league (yards per game) or the same guy who had the 14th-best offense last year?<\/p>\n

Evans\u2019 new offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan? Well, he\u2019s about as established of a star offensive coordinator as there is in the game.<\/p>\n

Yes, today is a very sad day. The Joe typing this here post was also a monster Albert Pujols fan and has never recovered from Pujols leaving the Cardinals. But you know what, Pujols was never the same player after he took the money and ran to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Joe is not wishing Evans any ill. He always treated Joe with respect. But if he doesn\u2019t enjoy the same success in San Francisco as he did here in Tampa Bay, it will help the medicine go down a little easier.<\/p>\n

Fans can now all stop using that clich\u00e9 that Team Glazer never lost a player it wanted to keep.<\/p>\n

\u201cThird-and-28.\u201d Joe won\u2019t soon forget it.<\/p>\n

A frustrated Mike Evans after the Bucs lose 29-28 to the Falcons.<\/p>\n

Evans finished with six catches for 132 yards. pic.twitter.com\/p8XVQ5zmQs<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) December 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

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