Kyle Pitts Three-Touchdown Performance Fuels Falcons Stunning Comeback Win Against Tampa Bay.

NFL 2025 Campaign: The fifteenth week

Kyle Pitts notched three scores as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a late comeback to secure a nail-biting 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kicker Zane Gonzalez booted a game-winning kick as time ran out, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in league history to achieve three receiving catches and over 150 receiving yards in a same contest.

After beginning the year as one of the NFL's early-season leaders, the Buccaneers have now fallen from the top of the AFC South for the first time in 2025, with just 3 contests left in the regular campaign.

They now hold a 7-7 record after suffering five of their last six outings. This features back-to-back home losses in the space of five days to two divisional opponents who are eliminated from play-off the race.

Contest Recap

The Buccaneers opened the scoring with a Sean Tucker score before the Falcons took a 14-13 lead at half-time. This came after Pitts, who entered Thursday's matchup with just one score all year, hauled in his first two touchdowns.

The Buccaneers 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.

Experienced quarterback Kirk Cousins was making his fourth consecutive start after a year-ending injury to Atlanta's starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The veteran then led the Falcons to the thirty-second fourth-quarter comeback of his distinguished NFL tenure.

Running back Bijan Robinson found the end zone before Pitts completed his hat-trick. Atlanta then regained possession with less than two minutes remaining.

And despite being pinned to a difficult third-down situation after a fumble recovery and a 10-yard penalty, Cousins completed crucial throws to Pitts and receiver David Sills V to position the Falcons in field goal range for Gonzalez to drill a 43-yard game winner.

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

Postseason Ramifications

Atlanta is now 5-9, and their surprise victory 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 four matchups. Only the division winner is assured a postseason berth.