Kyle Pitts Three-Touchdown Performance Powers Falcons Remarkable Fightback Win Against Tampa Bay.
Kyle Pitts has now recorded 14 touchdowns since being selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft.
National Football League 2025 Campaign: Week 15
Kyle Pitts registered three touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a dramatic rally to snatch a last-gasp 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Placekicker Zane Gonzalez converted a game-winning kick as time expired, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in NFL history to record three touchdown catches and over 150 receiving yards in a same game.
After starting the season as one of the NFL's initial leaders, the Buccaneers have now dropped from the summit of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just 3 contests left in the regular season.
They now hold a 7-7 record after suffering 5 of their previous six outings. This includes consecutive home losses in the span of five days to two division rivals who are out of postseason the race.
Game Summary
The Buccaneers opened the scoring with a Sean Tucker touchdown before the Falcons held a 14-13 lead at the intermission. This followed Pitts, who entered Thursday's game with just one score all season, claimed his first two scores.
The Buccaneers then surged into a 28-14 advantage early in the final period after quarterback Baker Mayfield threw scoring throws to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins was making his fourth straight start after a season-ending injury to Atlanta's primary quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 37-year-old proceeded to guide the Falcons to the thirty-second fourth-quarter comeback of his distinguished career.
Tailback Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts secured his hat-trick. Atlanta then regained possession with under two minutes remaining.
And despite being pinned to a difficult third-down situation after recovering his own fumble and a 10-yard penalty, Cousins completed crucial throws to Pitts and wideout David Sills V to position the Falcons in field goal range for Gonzalez to kick a 43-yard winning field goal.
Cousins finished with 373 passing yards and three touchdown passes to Pitts, who collected 166 yards from 11 receptions.
Postseason Implications
Atlanta improved to 5-9, and their surprise victory of Tampa Bay did a favour for the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers (7-6) now sit atop the NFC South and will face the Buccaneers in 2 of their last four matchups. Only the division winner is assured a postseason spot.