Kyle Pitts has now scored 14 scores since being selected as the number four overall pick in the 2021 selection process.
National Football League 2025 Campaign: Week 15
Kyle Pitts scored three scores as the Atlanta Falcons mounted a late rally to secure a nail-biting 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Placekicker Zane Gonzalez booted a game-winning kick as time expired, while Pitts became only the 8th tight end in NFL history to record three receiving catches and more than 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 initial time in 2025, with just 3 games remaining in the regular campaign.
They currently possess a 7-7 mark after suffering 5 of their last six outings. This features consecutive home-field losses in the span of 5 days to two division opponents who are out of play-off the race.
Game Summary
The Buccaneers started the scoring with a Sean Tucker score before the Falcons took a 14-13 lead at the intermission. This followed Pitts, who came into Thursday's matchup with just one score all season, hauled in his initial pair of touchdowns.
The Buccaneers then surged into a 28-14 advantage early in the final period after quarterback Baker Mayfield connected on scoring passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Experienced quarterback Kirk Cousins was starting his fourth straight start after a season-ending injury to Atlanta's starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 37-year-old proceeded to guide the Falcons to the 32nd fourth-quarter rally of his illustrious NFL tenure.
Running back Bijan Robinson found the end zone before Pitts secured his hat-trick. Atlanta subsequently won back the ball with less than two minutes remaining.
And even after being pinned to a difficult third-down situation after a fumble recovery and a ten-yard penalty, Cousins completed crucial passes to Pitts and wideout 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 throws to Pitts, who collected 166 yards from 11 receptions.
Postseason Implications
Atlanta is now 5-9, and their surprise victory of Tampa Bay did a favour for the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers (7-6) now sit atop the NFC South and will face the Buccaneers in 2 of their last 4 games. Only the division winner is guaranteed a play-off spot.
