Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers troll Saints cornerback ahead of Mike Evans matchup

By Max Steele | Last updated 10/1/23

Get the popcorn ready.

At 1 p.m., the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) visit the New Orleans Saints (2-1) in a pivotal matchup to take control of the NFC South. But that's not even the most exciting part.

Prepare to be on the edge of your seats as one of most heated individual rivalries in modern sports takes center stage yet again: Bucs WR Mike Evans versus Saints CB Marshon Lattimore.

The two veterans have a long history of violent feuds — including three physical altercations, ejections, suspensions and over $100,000 in fines for Evans, according to Tampa Bay Times. You're almost guaranteed a show when the two line up against each other.

Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore face off again on Sunday.

They have gone at it three separate times over the years.

Here's a video of all three incidents... and it's worth wondering what Sunday will bring us next.pic.twitter.com/dRiCVN5WhE
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 29, 2023

Ahead of today's battle, the Buccaneers took to social media to only further add fuel to the fire. The team posted a photo on X, formerly Twitter, of Mike Evans entering New Orleans' Caesars Superdome captioned "Gloves up" with a boxing glove emoji.

Gloves up pic.twitter.com/4HJbgtrZIj
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 1, 2023

"It gets spicy when you come to New Orleans," Evans said after the Bucs beat the Saints 20-10 on the road last year.

Evans may have won on the scoreboard, but he's routinely struggled against Lattimore's coverage in recent years. In their last six regular-season meetings, the 30-year-old receiver has averaged 2.5 receptions for 41.3 yards and two touchdowns, according to Tampa Bay Times.

Evans will look to continue his hot start to the season. Despite replacing Tom Brady with Baker Mayfield, the four-time Pro Bowler has racked up 17 catches for 297 yards and three touchdowns through the first three games.

With the Atlanta Falcons (2-2) falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) in London this morning, the NFC South is for taking, and Evans versus Lattimore will likely be a deciding factor in who takes the crown.

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