Skip to content
Note Trailbloom 360

Kyle Pitts Hat-Trick Powers Atlanta Remarkable Comeback Victory Against Buccaneers.

The Falcons tight end in action during the game.

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

National Football League 2025 Season: The fifteenth week

Kyle Pitts registered three touchdowns as the Atlanta Falcons engineered a dramatic rally to secure a nail-biting 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Placekicker Zane Gonzalez converted a clutch kick as time ran out, while Pitts etched his name as only the 8th tight end in league history to achieve three touchdown catches and over 150 receiving yards in a same contest.

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 three contests remaining in the regular campaign.

They now hold a 7-7 record after suffering 5 of their previous six games. This includes consecutive home losses in the space of five days to two division rivals who are eliminated from play-off contention.

Contest Summary

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

The home team subsequently raced into a 28-14 advantage early in the final quarter after QB Baker Mayfield connected on scoring 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 primary quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The 37-year-old then led the Falcons to the thirty-second fourth-quarter comeback of his illustrious NFL tenure.

Running back Bijan Robinson got into the end zone before Pitts completed his three-touchdown game. Atlanta then regained possession with less than two minutes left on the clock.

And even after being backed up to a difficult third-down situation after a fumble recovery and a 10-yard penalty, Cousins made crucial throws to Pitts and wideout David Sills V to get the Falcons in field goal range for Gonzalez to kick a 43-yard game winner.

Cousins finished with 373 passing yards and three scoring passes to Pitts, who collected 166 receiving yards from 11 receptions.

Postseason Implications

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 last four matchups. Only the division winner is guaranteed a play-off spot.

About the author

Laurie Jackson

A passionate writer and educator dedicated to helping others find their voice through creative expression and storytelling.

Note Trailbloom 360

Type to search articles.