The star tight end has now scored 14 touchdowns since being drafted as the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft.
NFL 2025 Campaign: The fifteenth week
Kyle Pitts notched three touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons mounted a late comeback to secure a last-gasp 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez converted a clutch kick as time expired, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in NFL history to record three receiving catches and more than 150 receiving yards in a same game.
After starting the year as one of the NFL's initial leaders, the Buccaneers have now fallen from the summit of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just 3 games remaining in the regular campaign.
They now hold a 7-7 mark after losing 5 of their last six outings. This features back-to-back home defeats in the span of 5 days to two division rivals who are out of play-off the race.
Contest Summary
The Buccaneers started the scoring with a Sean Tucker touchdown before the Falcons took a 14-13 lead at half-time. This followed Pitts, who entered Thursday's game with just a single score all season, claimed his first two touchdowns.
The home team then surged into a 28-14 lead early in the fourth quarter after quarterback Baker Mayfield threw touchdown throws to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins was making 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 thirty-second fourth-quarter comeback of his illustrious NFL tenure.
Tailback Bijan Robinson found the end zone before Pitts secured his three-touchdown game. Atlanta then regained the ball with under two minutes remaining.
And despite being pinned to a third and 28 after recovering his own fumble and a 10-yard infraction, Cousins completed key throws to Pitts and wideout David Sills V to position the Falcons in range for Gonzalez to drill a 43-yard winning field goal.
Cousins ended the day with 373 yards through the air and three scoring passes to Pitts, who amassed 166 receiving yards from 11 receptions.
Postseason Implications
Atlanta improved to 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 2 of their last 4 matchups. Only the team that wins the division is guaranteed a postseason berth.
