Kyle Pitts has now scored 14 touchdowns since being drafted as the number four overall pick in the 2021 selection process.
National Football League 2025 Season: Week 15
Kyle Pitts registered three touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons mounted a late rally to secure a nail-biting 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Placekicker Zane Gonzalez converted a clutch kick as time ran out, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in NFL history to achieve three receiving catches and over 150 receiving yards in a same contest.
After starting the year as one of the NFL's initial leaders, the Buccaneers have now fallen from the top of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just 3 games left in the regular campaign.
They currently possess a 7-7 record after suffering 5 of their last six games. This includes back-to-back home losses in the span of 5 days to two divisional opponents who are eliminated from play-off contention.
Game Recap
The Buccaneers opened the scoring with a Sean Tucker score before the Falcons took a 14-13 advantage at the intermission. This followed Pitts, who came into Thursday's matchup with just a single touchdown 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 passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Experienced quarterback Kirk Cousins was starting his fourth straight start after a year-ending injury to Atlanta's starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The veteran proceeded to guide the Falcons to the 32nd fourth-quarter comeback of his distinguished career.
Tailback Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts completed his three-touchdown game. Atlanta then regained possession with less than two minutes remaining.
And despite being pinned to a difficult third-down situation after recovering his own fumble and a ten-yard infraction, Cousins completed crucial throws to Pitts and receiver David Sills V to get the Falcons in field goal range for Gonzalez to drill a 43-yard winning field goal.
Cousins finished with 373 passing yards and three scoring passes to Pitts, who collected 166 receiving yards from eleven receptions.
Postseason Implications
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 are set to face the Buccaneers in two of their last four games. Only the team that wins the division is assured a postseason berth.
