Pitts Three-Touchdown Performance Fuels Falcons Remarkable Fightback Victory Over Tampa Bay.
The star tight end has now scored 14 touchdowns since being drafted as the fourth overall pick in the 2021 selection process.
NFL 2025 Campaign: The fifteenth week
Kyle Pitts registered three scores as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a dramatic rally to secure a nail-biting 29-28 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez converted a game-winning kick as time ran out, while Pitts etched his name as only the eighth tight end in league history to record three touchdown catches and more than 150 receiving yards in a single contest.
After starting the year as one of the NFL's early-season pacesetters, the Buccaneers have now dropped from the top of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just 3 games remaining in the regular season.
They currently possess a 7-7 mark after losing five of their last six outings. This features consecutive home defeats in the space of 5 days to two division opponents who are out of postseason contention.
Game Summary
The Buccaneers opened the scoring with a Sean Tucker touchdown before the Falcons held a 14-13 advantage at the intermission. This followed Pitts, who came into Thursday's game with just one score all year, claimed his first two scores.
The Buccaneers subsequently raced into a 28-14 lead early in the final quarter after QB Baker Mayfield threw scoring throws to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Experienced quarterback Kirk Cousins was making his fourth consecutive start after a year-ending injury to Atlanta's primary quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The veteran proceeded to guide the Falcons to the thirty-second final period comeback of his illustrious NFL tenure.
Tailback Bijan Robinson found the end zone before Pitts secured his three-touchdown game. Atlanta subsequently won back possession with under two minutes remaining.
And despite being backed up to a difficult third-down situation after recovering his own fumble and a 10-yard infraction, Cousins made key throws to Pitts and wideout David Sills V to get the Falcons in range for Gonzalez to drill a 43-yard game winner.
Cousins finished with 373 passing yards and three touchdown throws to Pitts, who amassed 166 yards from eleven receptions.
Postseason Implications
Atlanta is now 5-9, and their upset of Tampa Bay greatly helped the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers (7-6) now lead the NFC South and will face the Buccaneers in two of their final four games. Only the team that wins the division is assured a play-off berth.
