NFL scores: Falcons spoil Bucs’ playoff hopes behind Kyle Pitts’ massive evening

[ad_1] NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

It was a hard-fought NFC South matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons on Thursday evening, and the latter needed to play spoiler.

The Falcons , who had been eradicated from the playoffs final week, made it tougher for the Bucs to win the division after a walk-off discipline objective by Zane Gonzalez in a 29-28 victory.

Tampa Bay is now 7-7 on the 12 months, having misplaced their final two video games, whereas the Falcons are 5-9.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons runs with the ball in the course of the first quarter of the NFL soccer sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 11, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photos)

One of many massive storylines coming into the sport was the return of veteran receiver Mike Evans, who had been sidelined since Week 4 with a collarbone harm.

Whereas many questioned if the Bucs would have him on a snap depend, it didn’t appear that approach as quarterback Baker Mayfield liked getting him the ball on this one. Evans completed with 132 yards on simply six catches to prepared the ground for the Bucs within the go sport.

Nonetheless, Evans’ spectacular efficiency was nothing in comparison with Falcons tight finish Kyle Pitts, who had a profession sport on "Thursday Evening Soccer." Within the absence of star receiver Drake London, Pitts grew to become Kirk Cousins’ favourite goal on the evening.

TOM BRADY MAILBAG: THE ONE FOOD THE GOAT CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT, AND IT'S NOT AVOCADO ICE CREAM

The 6-foot-6 tight finish had three landing catches and 166 yards on 11 catches, as he and Cousins discovered a fast connection early and it got here in clutch late within the sport.

After Mayfield was picked off by Dee Alford in a 28-20 sport, Cousins and the Falcons’ offense had the chance to march down the sphere and tie the sport, granted they scored a landing and had a profitable two-point conversion.

Cousins, having discovered Pitts twice earlier than, lofted a go to his trusty tight finish, who secured it and managed to remain in bounds for his third rating of the evening. Video overview was wanted to find out if he stayed in bounds, and whereas it appeared his elbow was out, his bottom hit the turf in bounds on the identical second. With officers calling a landing initially, it was inadequate proof to overturn the rating.

Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons warms up previous to a sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 11, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Photos)

However the Bucs had been nonetheless up two, needing a giant cease on the two-point play. They obtained simply that, as Cousins was hurried and the go went incomplete.

Mayfield, who had two landing passes on this sport to Chris Godwin and Devin Culp, knew they might ice the sport with a couple of first downs on the following drive. However backed up on third-and-14, Mayfield was sacked on the two-minute warning.

Cousins didn’t have any timeouts to work with after getting the ball again, and it was an inauspicious begin to the drive when he was strip-sacked and the sport might’ve been over proper then and there.

However the ruling was each the Bucs and Falcons had the ball, which means the tie goes to the group who was on offense. That also set Cousins again to second-and-18, which was second-and-28 on a holding penalty that was accepted after an incompletion.

Cousins, although, used Pitts and David Sills V to get the yardage wanted to maintain the drive alive. The Falcons had been in discipline objective vary for Gonzalez, who ultimately buried the 43-yarder for the win.

The Bucs had been up 28-14 heading into the fourth quarter, however a defensive breakdown on the worst time value them in the long run.

Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the whole FOX Nation library, plus dwell FOX Information, Sports activities, and Leisure at our lowest value of the 12 months. The provide ends on Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Within the field rating, Cousins was phenomenal in primetime, passing for 373 yards along with his three connections to Pitts.

And we are able to’t neglect about Bijan Robinson, the league-leader in scrimmage yards who totaled 175 (93 dashing, 82 receiving) on 27 whole touches for Atlanta.