Pitts hat-trick helps Falcons fight back to upset Bucs
Kyle Pitts has scored 14 touchdowns since selected as the fourth overall draft pick in 2021 [Reuters]NFL 2025 season: Week 15
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Kyle Pitts scored three touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons came from behind to clinch a last-gasp 29-28 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Zane Gonzalez kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired while Pitts became only the eighth tight end of all-time to claim three receiving touchdowns and more than 150 receiving yards in the same game.
After being one of the NFL's early-season pacesetters, the Bucs have dropped from the top of the AFC South for the first time in 2025, with just three games left in the regular season.
They now have a 7-7 record after losing five of their last six games. That includes back-to-back home defeats in the space of five days to their two divisional rivals who are out of play-off contention.
The Bucs opened the scoring with a Sean Tucker touchdown before the Falcons led 14-13 at half-time after Pitts, who came into Thursday's game with just one touchdown all season, claimed his first two scores.
The home team went into a 28-14 lead early in the fourth quarter after Baker Mayfield made touchdown passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.
Veteran Kirk Cousins was making his fourth straight start after a season-ending injury to Atlanta's starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr and the 37-year-old led the Falcons to the 32nd fourth-quarter comeback of his career.
Running back Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts claimed his hat-trick and Atlanta regained possession with less than two minutes left.
And despite being backed up to third and 28 after recovering his own fumble and a 10-yard penalty, Cousins made key passes to Pitts and receiver David Sills V to get the Falcons in range for Gonzalez to kick a 43-yard game winner.
Cousins finished with 373 passing yards and three touchdown passes to Pitts, who claimed 166 yards from 11 receptions.
Atlanta are now 5-9 and their upset of Tampa Bay did Carolina a favour as the Panthers (7-6) now top the NFC South and face the Bucs in two of their last four games, with only the division winner guaranteed a play-off spot.