Kyle Pitts Three-Touchdown Performance Fuels Atlanta Stunning Fightback Win Against Tampa Bay.

National Football League 2025 Season: The fifteenth week

Kyle Pitts notched three scores as the Atlanta Falcons mounted a late rally to secure a nail-biting 29-28 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kicker Zane Gonzalez converted a game-winning kick as time ran out, while Pitts etched his name as only the 8th tight end in NFL history to achieve three touchdown catches and more than 150 receiving yards in a same game.

After beginning the season as one of the NFL's early-season pacesetters, the Buccaneers have now fallen from the top of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just three contests remaining in the regular season.

They currently possess a 7-7 mark after losing 5 of their last six outings. This includes consecutive home losses in the space of five days to two divisional rivals who are eliminated from postseason contention.

Contest Summary

The Buccaneers started the scoring with a Sean Tucker touchdown before the Falcons held a 14-13 lead at the intermission. This followed Pitts, who entered Thursday's game with just a single score all year, claimed his first two scores.

The Buccaneers then surged into a 28-14 advantage early in the fourth period after quarterback Baker Mayfield threw 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 primary quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The veteran then led the Falcons to the 32nd final period comeback of his illustrious NFL tenure.

Tailback Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts completed his hat-trick. Atlanta subsequently won back the ball with less than two minutes left on the clock.

And even after being backed up to a third and 28 after recovering his own fumble and a ten-yard infraction, Cousins made crucial passes to Pitts and wideout David Sills V to position the Falcons in field goal range for Gonzalez to kick a 43-yard winning field goal.

Cousins finished with 373 yards through the air 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 guaranteed a play-off spot.