TAMPA, Fla. — The numbers – eight receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns — suggest Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans had his way with Seattle’s Richard Sherman in a much-touted matchup of two of the best players in the NFL at their respective positions.
But it wasn’t quite that simple.
While the Seahawks did try to put Sherman in position to shadow Evans as often as possible, they didn’t do it every play. Evans’ first three receptions all appeared to come against zone defenses and not directly on Sherman, including his first touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Jameis Winston.