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Pitts Hat-Trick Powers Atlanta Remarkable Fightback Victory Over Tampa Bay.

The Falcons tight end in action during the contest.

The star tight end has now scored 14 scores since being selected as the number four overall pick in the 2021 selection process.

NFL 2025 Season: The fifteenth week

Kyle Pitts scored three touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a dramatic comeback to snatch a nail-biting 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Placekicker Zane Gonzalez booted a game-winning field goal as time expired, while Pitts became only the eighth tight end in league history to record three receiving catches and over 150 receiving yards in a single contest.

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

They now hold a 7-7 record after suffering five of their last six outings. This features consecutive home-field defeats in the space of 5 days to two divisional opponents who are eliminated from play-off 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 followed Pitts, who came into Thursday's game with just one touchdown all season, claimed his initial pair of scores.

The Buccaneers then surged into a 28-14 advantage early in the final period after QB Baker Mayfield threw touchdown throws to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.

Veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins was making his fourth consecutive start after a season-ending injury to Atlanta's starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 37-year-old then led the Falcons to the 32nd final period rally of his illustrious NFL tenure.

Running back Bijan Robinson found the end zone before Pitts secured his three-touchdown game. Atlanta subsequently won back the ball with under two minutes remaining.

And even after being pinned to a third and 28 after recovering his own fumble and a ten-yard infraction, Cousins completed crucial passes to Pitts and wideout 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 scoring throws to Pitts, who collected 166 receiving yards from 11 receptions.

Postseason Implications

Atlanta is now 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 games. Only the division winner is assured a play-off spot.

Written by

Katherine Warren

Aria Vance is a digital content strategist with a passion for storytelling and lifestyle journalism, bringing unique insights to modern readers.

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