Kyle Pitts has now scored 14 touchdowns since being selected as the number four overall pick in the 2021 selection process.
National Football League 2025 Campaign: The fifteenth week
Kyle Pitts notched three touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a late comeback to snatch a last-gasp 29-28 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Placekicker Zane Gonzalez converted a clutch field goal as time ran out, while Pitts became only the 8th tight end in NFL history to achieve three touchdown catches and more than 150 receiving yards in a single contest.
After beginning the year as one of the NFL's early-season pacesetters, the Buccaneers have now fallen from the summit of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just three contests remaining in the regular season.
They currently possess a 7-7 record after losing five of their previous six games. This features consecutive home-field defeats in the span of five days to two divisional opponents who are out of play-off contention.
Contest Recap
The Buccaneers started the scoring with a Sean Tucker score 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, hauled in his initial pair of touchdowns.
The Buccaneers then surged into a 28-14 advantage early in the final period after QB Baker Mayfield connected on scoring passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Experienced quarterback Kirk Cousins was starting his fourth consecutive start after a year-ending injury to Atlanta's starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 37-year-old then led the Falcons to the thirty-second fourth-quarter rally of his illustrious career.
Running back Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts completed his hat-trick. Atlanta then regained possession with less than two minutes left on the clock.
And even after being backed up to a difficult third-down situation after a fumble recovery and a ten-yard penalty, Cousins completed key passes to Pitts and wideout David Sills V to position the Falcons in range for Gonzalez to drill a 43-yard winning field goal.
Cousins ended the day with 373 yards through the air and three scoring passes to Pitts, who collected 166 yards from 11 receptions.
Postseason Ramifications
Atlanta improved to 5-9, and their surprise victory of Tampa Bay greatly helped the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers (7-6) now lead the NFC South and are set to face the Buccaneers in two of their final 4 matchups. Only the team that wins the division is assured a play-off berth.
