Kyle Pitts Three-Touchdown Performance Fuels Falcons Remarkable Fightback Win Against Buccaneers.

NFL 2025 Season: Week 15

Kyle Pitts notched three scores as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a late comeback to snatch a last-gasp 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kicker Zane Gonzalez converted a game-winning field goal as time expired, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in NFL history to record three receiving catches and over 150 receiving yards in a single game.

After beginning the season as one of the NFL's early-season pacesetters, the Buccaneers have now dropped from the summit of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just three contests left in the regular campaign.

They now hold a 7-7 mark after losing 5 of their previous six games. This features consecutive home losses in the space of five days to two division rivals who are eliminated from play-off the race.

Game Summary

The Buccaneers opened 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 matchup with just one touchdown all season, hauled in his initial pair of scores.

The home team then surged into a 28-14 advantage early in the fourth period after quarterback Baker Mayfield threw touchdown throws to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.

Veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins was starting his fourth straight start after a season-ending injury to Atlanta's primary quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 37-year-old then led the Falcons to the 32nd fourth-quarter comeback of his illustrious NFL tenure.

Tailback Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts completed his three-touchdown game. Atlanta subsequently won back possession with under two minutes left on the clock.

And even after being backed up to a third and 28 after a fumble recovery and a ten-yard penalty, Cousins completed crucial passes to Pitts and receiver David Sills V to position the Falcons in field goal range for Gonzalez to kick a 43-yard game winner.

Cousins ended the day with 373 passing yards and three scoring throws to Pitts, who collected 166 yards from eleven catches.

Postseason Ramifications

Atlanta improved to 5-9, and their upset of Tampa Bay greatly helped the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers (7-6) now sit atop the NFC South and will face the Buccaneers in two of their last 4 matchups. Only the team that wins the division is guaranteed a postseason berth.