The star tight end has now recorded 14 touchdowns since being selected as the number four overall pick in the 2021 draft.
NFL 2025 Season: Week 15
Kyle Pitts scored three scores as the Atlanta Falcons mounted a dramatic rally to secure a nail-biting 29-28 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez booted a clutch field goal as time expired, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in league history to achieve three receiving catches and over 150 yards through the air in a same game.
After starting the season as one of the NFL's initial pacesetters, the Buccaneers have now dropped from the summit of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just 3 contests remaining in the regular campaign.
They currently possess a 7-7 mark after suffering 5 of their previous six outings. This includes back-to-back home-field defeats in the span of five days to two division opponents who are out of postseason contention.
Contest Summary
The Buccaneers opened the scoring with a Sean Tucker score before the Falcons took a 14-13 advantage at half-time. This followed Pitts, who came into Thursday's game with just a single score all season, claimed his initial pair of touchdowns.
The home team then surged into a 28-14 lead early in the fourth period after QB Baker Mayfield threw touchdown passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Experienced quarterback Kirk Cousins was making his fourth straight start after a season-ending injury to Atlanta's starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The veteran then led the Falcons to the 32nd fourth-quarter rally of his illustrious career.
Running back Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts secured his three-touchdown game. Atlanta subsequently won back the ball with under two minutes left on the clock.
And despite being pinned to a difficult third-down situation after a fumble recovery and a ten-yard infraction, Cousins made crucial passes to Pitts and receiver David Sills V to get the Falcons in range for Gonzalez to drill a 43-yard winning field goal.
Cousins finished with 373 yards through the air and three touchdown passes to Pitts, who collected 166 receiving yards from 11 catches.
Playoff Implications
Atlanta is now 5-9, and their upset of Tampa Bay greatly helped the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers (7-6) now sit atop the NFC South and are set to face the Buccaneers in two of their last 4 games. Only the team that wins the division is guaranteed a play-off spot.
