Kyle Pitts has now recorded 14 touchdowns since being drafted as the fourth overall pick in the 2021 selection process.
NFL 2025 Campaign: Week 15
Kyle Pitts scored three scores as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a late comeback to snatch a nail-biting 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez converted a game-winning kick as time expired, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in league history to record three receiving catches and over 150 receiving yards in a same game.
After starting the year as one of the NFL's early-season pacesetters, the Buccaneers have now dropped from the summit of the AFC South for the first time in 2025, with just 3 games remaining in the regular campaign.
They currently possess a 7-7 record after losing five of their previous six games. This features consecutive home losses in the space of 5 days to two division rivals who are out of play-off the race.
The Buccaneers opened the scoring with a Sean Tucker touchdown before the Falcons held a 14-13 advantage at the intermission. This came after Pitts, who came into Thursday's game with just a single touchdown all year, claimed his initial pair of touchdowns.
The home team then surged into a 28-14 advantage early in the final quarter after QB Baker Mayfield threw touchdown passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins was starting his fourth straight start after a season-ending injury to Atlanta's primary quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The veteran then led the Falcons to the thirty-second fourth-quarter comeback of his distinguished NFL tenure.
Tailback Bijan Robinson found the end zone before Pitts secured his hat-trick. Atlanta subsequently won back the ball 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 passes to Pitts and receiver David Sills V to get the Falcons in range for Gonzalez to kick a 43-yard winning field goal.
Cousins finished with 373 passing yards and three scoring throws to Pitts, who amassed 166 receiving yards from eleven receptions.
Atlanta is now 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 last four games. Only the team that wins the division is guaranteed a play-off berth.
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