After a series of head-scratching misfires for much of the 2022 season, the downfield connection between Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Mike Evans came alive in Sunday’s 30-24 win over the Panthers. Brady found Evans deep for three touchdowns spanning 63, 57 and 30 yards to help Tampa Bay overcome an early 14-0 deficit to beat Carolina and win the NFC South title.

Either Bucs offensive star could have been the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his role in a win that got Tampa Bay back to .500 at 8-8, but Evans was the winner despite Brady throwing for a season-high 432 yards, which matched his best output in his three years in Tampa Bay.

Evans earned the distinction for the second time in his career, joining teammate Chris Godwin as the only wide receivers in franchise history to win the award multiple times.

Brady’s three passing touchdowns were also a season high, and he added another score on a 1-yard QB sneak to help increase the Bucs’ lead to 30-21 with less than two minutes left in regulation. Brady completed 75 percent of his passes and didn’t throw an interception after throwing a pair of picks in each of Tampa Bay’s last three games.

Brady leads the NFL with 477 attempts and 716 completions (66.6 percent) for 4,610 yards with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Bucs WRs Evans, Godwin Help Brady Have Big Passing Day

It was nearly a career day for Evans, who hauled in 10 catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns – all season highs. Evans hadn’t scored a touchdown since hauling in two TDs against Kansas City in Week 4. The former first-round pick more than atoned for a dropped a wide open touchdown on Tampa Bay’s first drive at Carolina in a 21-3 loss in Week 7.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Evans, who became the only Bucs player to go over the 10,000-yard receiving mark earlier this year, also topped 1,000 receiving yards for the ninth straight season. That extended his NFL record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start a career. With nine straight 1,000-yard seasons, Evans is tied with Tim Brown for the second-longest streak in the league at any point in a career. Only Jerry Rice (11) has more consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in a career.

Brady and Evans weren’t the only offensive stars with big production against the Panthers. Godwin greatly aided Brady’s passing total by contributing nine catches on targets for a season-high 120 yards.

Evans now has three games with over 100 yards receiving on the season, while Godwin has two. But Sunday was the first time this year that Tampa Bay has had a pair of receivers hit the century mark in terms of receiving yardage.

Godwin leads the Bucs with 98 catches for 968 yards and three touchdowns, and needs just 32 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the third time in his career. Evans has a team-high 1,124 yards on 77 catches with six touchdowns, which is the most in Tampa Bay this season.