Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts totaled a career-high 11 catches for 166 yards and three scores in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday in Tampa, Fla. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA
Kyle Pitts scored a career-high three times to help the Atlanta Falcons rally from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It was the plan all along,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris told reporters after the 29-28 triumph Thursday in Tampa, Fla. “Kyle is our guy. Down a couple of your guys, Drake London is one of those guys, Kyle has really fulfilled that role and became the lead guy.
“He’s done an awesome job.”
Pitts also recorded career-highs in targets (12), catches (11) and receiving yards (166) in the narrow win. The Falcons edged the Buccaneers 476-338 in total yards. Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 373 yards and three scores, with no turnovers for the Falcons, who prevented a three-game losing streak.
Third TD of the day for KP!@kylepitts__ x #ProBowlVote
PRIME | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/aNxxYSAHOQ— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 12, 2025
“We’ve been having our ups and downs through the year,” Pitts said. “Obviously, it’s not fun being eliminated early, but we are resilient. The team we have is tight-knit. We fight for each other. At this point, we are fighting for each other.”
The Falcons and Buccaneers exchanged blows several times in the first half. Running back Sean Tucker scored on an 8-yard run for a 7-0 Buccaneers lead near the end of the first quarter. Cousins threw an 8-yard touchdown toss to Pitts about three minutes into the second to tie the score.
Kicker Chase McLaughlin made a 49-yard field goal to give the lead back to the Buccaneers right before the two-minute warning. Cousins found Pitts for a second touchdown — this one from 17-yards out — to give the Falcons their first lead about 38 seconds before halftime. McLaughlin made a 52-yard kick as time expired in the quarter to cut the Buccaneers deficit to one at the break.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield gave the lead back to the Buccaneers with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Devin Culp midway through the third quarter.
Kirk to Kyle, AGAIN!@kylepitts__ x #ProBowlVote
PRIME | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/jzhXKnrYKs— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 12, 2025
Buccaneers safety Christian Izien forced a fumble from Falcons running back Bijan Robinson in the final seconds of the quarter. Mayfield threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin 1:26 into the fourth quarter to help the Buccaneers take a 28-14 advantage.
Robinson ended the next possession — an 8-play, 65-yard drive — with a 6-yard touchdown run. The Falcons failed to complete a two-point conversion, leaving the Buccaneers with a 28-20 lead.
Veteran cornerback Dee Alford intercepted Mayfield on the fourth play of the next drive. Cousins proceeded to fire his third touchdown pass to Pitts on the resulting possession. The Falcons again failed to completed a two-point conversion, but their defense came up with a clutch stop on the next possession.
Cousins then led the Falcons to the Buccaneers 25-yard line, where kicker Zane Gonzalez made a 43-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired.
KP TD@kylepitts__ x #ProBowlVote
PRIME | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/5xwPtZYWpy— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 12, 2025
Robinson totaled 175 yards from scrimmage and a score on 27 touches in the victory. Mayfield completed 19 of 34 passes for 277 yards, two scores and an interception. Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. logged two sacks in the loss.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans caught six passes for 132 yards.
The Buccaneers (7-7) will take on the Carolina Panthers (7-6) at 1 p.m. EST Dec. 21 in Charlotte, N.C. The Falcons (5-9) will battle the Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at 4:05 p.m. Dec. 21 in Glendale, Ariz.
Most iconic Super Bowl moments
John Elway’s first Super Bowl win, 1998Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on January 25, 1998. The win marked Elway’s first Super Bowl title and included his famed “helicopter” run, one of the signature plays of his Hall of Fame career. Photo by Mickey Pfleger/UPI | License Photo
