Mike Evans caught touchdown passes on the first two drives of the game, but the Buccaneers’ defense ended up being the biggest stars in a 14-5 win over the Seahawks win Sunday.
It was your average 14-5 game. Jameis Winston and Evans hooked up for two touchdowns early, then the Seahawks got a safety and a field goal in a three-minute span in the second quarter. No one scored again.
The Buccaneers smothered Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, sacking Wilson six times. The Seahawks only converted one third down all day, and that came with a little more than two minutes left -- and just before an interception by Bradley McDougald at the goal line ended what little chance the Seahawks had to rally.
The Bucs improve to 6-5 and stay just a game behind the Falcons in the AFC South. The Seahawks are 7-3-1.
Bucs cornerback Alterraun Verner, playing two days after his father died, had a first-half interception of Wilson. Rookie Noah Spence and Gerald McCoy each were credited with 1.5 sacks.
The first Winston to Evans touchdown pass was an improvised 3-yarder Winston threw on the run. The second was a 23-yarder over Richard Sherman.
Wilson finished 17-of-33 for 151 yards. About 40 minutes into the game, he was 5-of-14 for 33 yards. The Seahawks were 1-of-11 in trying to convert third downs, and the Bucs won the time of possession battle by about seven minutes.
Evans finished with eight catches for 104 yards. Doug Martin ran 23 times for 87 yards.