While blindside hits have mostly been eliminated from the game, every once in a while you see one that isn’t helmet to helmet, but still just as brutal.
Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a big wideout and one of the best weapons for quarterback Jameis Winston. While his physicality can be an asset, dishing it out may not be the same as getting it in return. Evans took a huge hit from San Francisco’s Jimmie Ward after Winston threw an interception in the first quarter:
Ouch. That is as close as you can get to a spear in a game. While a helmet to helmet hit may have knocked him unconscious, being awake and feeling that pain in your gut may be even worse.
The play seemed like it would be a turning point in the game and possibly the beginning of a rout for the San Francisco 49ers. Fortunately for the Bucs, Evans wasn’t done for the day, and played a big factor in the game:
That was one of Evans’ two touchdowns on the day, and he reeled in eight passes for 96 yards in Tampa Bay’s 34-17 thrashing of the 49ers.
