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Evans, Bucs blow past Redskins

Nov 16, 2014 - 11:20 PM Landover, MD (SportsNetwork.com) - Rookie Mike Evans caught a pair of second- half touchdown passes and went over 200 yards for the first time in his career as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Washington Redskins 27-7 at FedExField on Sunday.

Evans, who had already made a strong case for Offensive Rookie of the Year, erupted for 209 yards on seven catches. The first-round draft pick from Texas A&M became the first rookie since Randy Moss in 1998 to have at least 100 yards receiving and a touchdown in three straight games.

"At the start of the week, our goal was to go 1-0. And we did that," said Evans, who set the Bucs rookie record for receiving yards in a game. "We played Buc football. Our defense was flying around, playing fast. Our offense made plays."

Josh McCown completed 15-of-23 passes for 288 in his second straight game under center for Tampa Bay (2-8). McCown, who thrived as Jay Cutler's backup last season in Chicago, started three games for the Bucs before a thumb injury forced him to miss time. Mike Glennon's struggles prompted Lovie Smith to give McCown another shot.

The Redskins got 96 rushing yards from Alfred Morris but another uneven performance from Robert Griffin III, who like McCown, missed time with an injury earlier this season.

Griffin threw two first-quarter interceptions, including a pick-six that spotted Tampa Bay an early lead. He finished 23-for-32 for 207 yards, a touchdown and two picks.

"To lay an egg in front of our own home fans, that's tough," said Griffin. "Nobody is going to feel sorry for us."

After Colt McCoy led Washington (3-7) to consecutive wins, Griffin fell to 0-2 since regaining the starting job.

The Bucs led 13-7 at halftime. Washington looked to cut into that with a nine- play drive in the third, but Kai Forbath missed a 50-yard field goal.

Tampa Bay needed just four plays after that to find the end zone. Tight end Brandon Myers made a 21-yard completion, setting up Evans' 36-yard score.

Early in the fourth, McCown and Evans hooked up for a 56-yard scoring strike over the top of the defense. Evans had a mismatch against linebacker Perry Riley and easily outran him, giving McCown a comfortable window to throw into.

Danny Lansanah intercepted Griffin on the game's first play. McCown and the Bucs offense took over at the Redskins 29 but failed to punch it in the end zone despite Vincent Jackson's 16-yard catch on 3rd-and-11. Trent Murphy sacked McCown three plays later, leading to Patrick Murray's 32-yard field goal.

Another Griffin mistake later in the first led to a Tampa Bay touchdown, as Johnthan Banks jumped in front of Pierre Garcon and ran his interception back 19 yards to the end zone.

Early in the second, Marcus Thigpen muffed a punt and the Redskins pounced on it, taking over at Tampa's 17. Consecutive sacks on Griffin pushed Washington all the way back to the 29, however, and Forbath pushed a 47-yard field goal wide right.

Murray's 38-yarder at 7:39 made it 13-0. The Bucs were poised to take that lead into halftime, but a punt with just over a minute remaining in the half gave Washington one more series.

Morris ran for 19 yards, then took a short pass and rumbled for 24 to the Bucs 34. Two plays later, Roy Helu took a pass out of the backfield and ran 30 yards untouched to cut the deficit to 13-7.

Game Notes

Evans has 21 catches and five touchdowns in his last five games ... Redskins left tackle Trent Williams left the game in the first quarter with an MCL injury and ankle sprain. Defensive lineman Chris Baker (SC joint), tight end Jordan Reed (hamstring) and Murphy (knee) also left the game.