CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The last time the Carolina Panthers faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a late-season game with playoff implications, it did not go well for the Panthers’ defense.

Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans played a big part in the Panthers’ demise, as he has for the past 11 seasons.

Taking advantage of an injury-depleted secondary, Evans repeatedly burned cornerbacks Keith Taylor and C.J. Henderson, caught three long touchdown passes from Tom Brady and helped the Bucs eliminate the Panthers from postseason consideration with a 30-24, Week 17 win in 2022.

The stakes are similar Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, with Evans again expected to have a huge role. Having missed nine games to a hamstring injury and broken collarbone, Evans’ streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons will end at 11, leaving him tied with Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history.

However, Evans can still put his name on top of another list. With two receptions Sunday, Evans will pass former Atlanta Falcons wideout Roddy White for the most career catches by a Panthers’ opponent. Evans, who has 118 receptions in 21 games vs. Carolina, already owns the marks for the most receiving yards (1,695) and touchdown catches (14) by a Panthers’ opponent.

The best vs. the Panthers

PLAYERGRECYDSYPGTD

Mike Evans

21

118

1,695

80.7

14

Julio Jones

17

90

1,537

90.4

6

Roddy White

21

119

1,498

71.3

10

Marques Colston

20

84

1,200

60.0

9

Terrell Owens

16

79

1,152

72.0

10

Evans was the No. 7 pick in the 2014 draft that saw the Panthers take Florida State receiver Kelvin Benjamin at 28. Benjamin has been out of the league since 2018, while Evans is still going.

The 32-year-old Evans hinted Wednesday he’s nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career, using the phrase, “when I leave this game soon,” when talking with Tampa reporters. For Panthers’ fans, “soon” can’t come quickly enough for the 6-5, 231-pound receiver, who’s been a pain in their side for a dozen years.

Panthers coach Dave Canales was struck by Evans’ competitive nature, whether playing cards, darts or basketball, in the one season Canales spent as Bucs offensive coordinator in 2023.

“Besides the obvious things — he’s huge and he’s got a (big) catch radius, and understands coverage and how to beat things — it’s really just the competitive mindset that he has,” Canales said.

The Panthers went to Tampa on New Year’s Day in 2023 with a 6-9 record, but just one game behind the Bucs after rallying under interim coach Steve Wilks late in the season. With Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson sidelined, Evans carved up the Panthers with 10 catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns, which covered 63, 57 and 30 yards.

That victory began a five-game win streak for the Bucs over Carolina. Meanwhile, the Panthers haven’t been playoff contenders since … until now. The two teams are tied for first in the NFC South with 7-7 records, and will play twice over the final three weeks of the regular season.

“They’re having a really great year, way better than last year,” Evans said. “We have to be the most physical team, number one, and then we have to be the smartest team. If we do those things, I think our offense can take advantage of some things we saw.”

Evans returned from his collarbone injury last week in a last-second loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Despite the six-game layoff, Evans looked like his usual self, pulling down six catches from Baker Mayfield for 132 yards, with a long of 45 yards.

“I thought he looked strong. I thought he looked really physical, right back to the style of play,” Canales said. “This is a guy that forces you to play a physical nature. And certainly can’t go without saying: He draws a lot of defensive pass interference calls. Going into this game, I understand the crew that we have, that’s something they do call.”

It’s interesting that Canales would send a proactive volley in the direction of Shawn Smith’s officiating crew, which will work Sunday’s game. Panthers players were displeased with last week’s unnecessary roughness call on rookie safety Lathan Ransom, whose hit on New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough set up the Saints’ game-winning field goal.

Also this week, Pro Football Talk reported the NFL told the Panthers the league erred in overturning a reception by the Panthers’ Tetairoa McMillan on second-and-10 with 2:17 remaining in the Saints’ game. Bryce Young picked up the first down with a scramble on the next play to extend a drive that ultimately ended with a punt.

Smith, in his eighth season as a referee, and his crew officiated the Panthers’ home game last year against the Kansas City Chiefs. They called three defensive pass interference penalties — two against the Chiefs and one on Horn.

Evans vs. Panthers since 2020

DATEWINNERRECYDSYPCTD

Dec. 29, 2024

Buccaneers

8

97

12.1

2

Dec. 1, 2024

Buccaneers

8

118

14.8

1

Jan. 7, 2024

Buccaneers

3

22

7.3

0

Dec. 3, 2023

Buccaneers

7

162

23.1

1

Jan. 1, 2023

Buccaneers

10

207

20.7

3

Oct. 23, 2022

Panthers

9

96

10.7

0

Jan. 9, 2022

Buccaneers

6

89

14.8

2

Nov. 15, 2020

Buccaneers

6

77

12.8

1

Sept. 20, 2020

Buccaneers

7

104

14.9

1

Regardless of Smith’s history, Canales said Horn and No. 2 corner Mike Jackson can’t back down from Evans.

“Jaycee and Mike are gonna have their opportunities and we have to play physical. Because he’s gonna bring that power forward type of mindset to the position,” Canales said. “We’re not gonna back off of that. We’re gonna continue to challenge him in different ways.”

Horn (6-1, 200) and Jackson (6-1, 210) are among the bigger corner tandems in the league.

“You can’t be scared. At the end of the day, it’s about who’s better that play,” Jackson said of Evans. “Can’t get caught into all the stats and the big name. On Sunday, he’s just (number) 13.”

As for Canales’ comment about Smith’s crew’s penchant for pass interference flags, Jackson said: “Every crew’s known for PI. So you can’t even say that. That’s not really (unique).”

More unique is Evans’ durability over the course of his career. He’d never missed more than three games in a season before this year. Evans has only sat out once against the Panthers, missing a Week 16 game in 2021 with a hamstring issue.

Panthers nickelback Chau Smith-Wade was 11 when Evans made his NFL debut against Carolina in 2014. With Derek Anderson starting for an injured Cam Newton and Josh McCown starting at QB for the Bucs, the Panthers won 20-14. Benjamin scored on a 26-yard touchdown; Evans finished with five catches for 37 yards in a performance that offered few clues of what was to come for the Texas A&M standout.

“As far as I can remember, he’s always been a force to be reckoned with when it came to a 50-50 ball,” Smith-Wade said. “That’s who Mike Evans is. That’s who I know him as.”