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NFL 2025 Campaign: Week 15

Kyle Pitts registered three scores as the Atlanta Falcons mounted a dramatic rally to secure a nail-biting 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Placekicker Zane Gonzalez converted a clutch field goal as time expired, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in league history to record three touchdown catches and more than 150 yards through the air in a same game.

After starting the year as one of the NFL's initial pacesetters, the Buccaneers have now fallen from the top of the AFC South for the initial time in 2025, with just 3 contests remaining in the regular season.

They currently possess a 7-7 record after losing 5 of their previous six outings. This includes consecutive home-field defeats in the space of five days to two divisional opponents who are eliminated from postseason the race.

Game Recap

The Buccaneers started the scoring with a Sean Tucker touchdown before the Falcons took a 14-13 lead at the intermission. This came after Pitts, who entered Thursday's matchup with just a single score all year, hauled in his first two touchdowns.

The Buccaneers subsequently raced into a 28-14 advantage early in the fourth period after QB Baker Mayfield threw touchdown passes 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 primary quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 37-year-old proceeded to guide the Falcons to the thirty-second fourth-quarter comeback of his distinguished NFL tenure.

Tailback Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts secured his hat-trick. Atlanta then regained possession with less than two minutes remaining.

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

Cousins finished with 373 passing yards and three scoring passes to Pitts, who collected 166 receiving yards from eleven catches.

Playoff Ramifications

Atlanta improved to 5-9, and their surprise victory of Tampa Bay did a favour for the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers (7-6) now lead the NFC South and will face the Buccaneers in 2 of their final 4 matchups. Only the division winner is guaranteed a postseason berth.