If Kyle Pitts hadn’t yet reminded the league why the Atlanta Falcons made one of the boldest tight end investments in NFL history back in 2021, he certainly did on Thursday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Pitts hauled in three touchdown passes from quarterback Kirk Cousins, including a clutch fourth-quarter score that culminated in Atlanta’s 29–28 comeback win. In the process, he etched his name alongside a three-time Super Bowl champion in an elite statistical club.
Kyle Pitts Creates NFL History Against the Buccaneers on TNF
The Falcons entered Thursday night at 4–9 and effectively out of the playoff race, while the Buccaneers were fighting to stay alive in the postseason hunt. Tampa Bay struck first with an early touchdown, but Atlanta quickly answered.
Early in the second quarter, Cousins connected with Pitts for an eight-yard score. The duo struck again before halftime on a 17-yard touchdown, sending the Falcons into the break with a 14–13 lead. The Buccaneers swung momentum back their way in the second half, scoring twice to build a 14-point lead with just 10 minutes remaining.
But Atlanta wasn’t done. Bijan Robinson punched in a touchdown to cut the deficit to six, and with four minutes left, Cousins found Pitts yet again, this time for a seven-yard score to make it 26–28. The Falcons completed the comeback with a late field goal, escaping with a dramatic 29–28 victory.
After review it’s a… touchdown!
Kyle Pitts with his THIRD of the night 🙌
ATLvsTB on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Qhap3iexGS— NFL (@NFL) December 12, 2025
Pitts finished with a monster stat line: 11 receptions, 166 yards, and three touchdowns. He became the first tight end since Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe to record 150+ yards and three touchdowns in a single game. Sharpe accomplished the feat in Week 6 of the 1996 season, but Pitts topped him by 13 more yards on two fewer catches.
For the season, Pitts now sits at 797 yards and four touchdowns. Entering Week 15, he ranked as the No. 12 tight end in PFSN’s TE Impact metric with a score of 79.9. He is also on pace to challenge his rookie-year career high of 1,026 receiving yards.
However, the win had unexpected consequences for Atlanta’s draft position. According to PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, their odds of securing the No. 1 overall pick have officially dropped to 0%.
Atlanta Falcons Remaining Schedule
- Week 16: Falcons at Cardinals
- Week 17: Falcons vs. Rams
- Week 18: Falcons vs. Saints
Given their struggles in 2025, these final games will still be important for Atlanta’s roster. With two divisional games, there are still bragging rights to play for. Additionally, with a matchup against the Rams, they could always play spoiler.
However, the final weeks will largely serve as an evaluation period for the coaching staff. Decisions regarding roster retention, offseason priorities, and head coach Raheem Morris’ job security will be shaped by the team’s performance down the stretch. With multiple close losses already defining the season, the Falcons have plenty to assess heading into 2026.