Kyle Pitts has now recorded 14 touchdowns since being selected as the number four overall pick in the 2021 draft.
NFL 2025 Campaign: Week 15
Kyle Pitts registered three touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a late rally to secure a nail-biting 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez booted a clutch kick as time expired, while Pitts etched his name as only the eighth tight end in NFL history to achieve three touchdown catches and more than 150 receiving yards in a single contest.
After starting 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 3 games left in the regular season.
They currently possess a 7-7 mark after losing 5 of their last six outings. This includes back-to-back home-field losses in the span of 5 days to two division opponents who are out of postseason 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 entered Thursday's matchup with just one touchdown all year, claimed his initial pair of scores.
The home team then surged into a 28-14 advantage early in the final period after QB Baker Mayfield threw scoring passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins was making 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 final period comeback of his distinguished career.
Tailback Bijan Robinson found the end zone before Pitts secured his three-touchdown game. Atlanta then regained the ball with less than 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 throws to Pitts and wideout David Sills V to get the Falcons in range for Gonzalez to drill a 43-yard game winner.
Cousins finished with 373 yards through the air and three touchdown throws to Pitts, who collected 166 receiving yards from eleven receptions.
Playoff Ramifications
Atlanta improved to 5-9, and their upset of Tampa Bay did a favour for the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers (7-6) now sit atop the NFC South and are set to face the Buccaneers in 2 of their last four games. Only the division winner is assured a postseason spot.
