Cousins, Falcons Stun Buccaneers With Late Comeback 29-28 Win/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts Sr. and led the Atlanta Falcons to a 29-28 comeback victory over Tampa Bay. Atlanta overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, 19 penalties, and a near-fumble to clinch the win with a last-second field goal. The Buccaneers’ playoff hopes took a major hit after another late collapse, their fifth loss in six games.
Falcons vs. Buccaneers Quick Looks
- Kirk Cousins threw for 373 yards and 3 TDs to Kyle Pitts.
- Falcons won 29-28 on a 43-yard field goal as time expired.
- Atlanta overcame a 28-14 deficit and 19 penalties.
- Kyle Pitts finished with 11 catches, 166 yards, and 3 TDs.
- Bucs QB Baker Mayfield threw a late interception, damaging playoff push.
- Tampa Bay has now lost 5 of its last 6 games.
- Falcons moved to 5-9; Buccaneers dropped to 7-7.
- Tampa wore throwback Creamsicle jerseys on 48th anniversary of first win.
- Zane Gonzalez drilled the game-winning kick as clock hit zero.
- Falcons face Cardinals next; Buccaneers face Panthers twice in final 3 games.
Cousins, Falcons Stun Buccaneers With Late Comeback 29-28 Win
Deep Look
TAMPA, Fla. — Kirk Cousins delivered a vintage performance Thursday night, proving he still has plenty left in the tank — and possibly sparking a quarterback controversy in Atlanta.
Cousins connected with tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. for three touchdowns and led the Falcons on a game-winning drive capped by Zane Gonzalez’s 43-yard field goal as time expired, securing a stunning 29-28 comeback victory over the reeling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Falcons (5-9) overcame a franchise-record 19 penalties, a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter, and near disaster on their final drive. For Tampa Bay (7-7), it was another crushing loss, their fifth in six games, leaving them a half-game behind the division-leading Panthers in the NFC South.
Cousins Delivers Clutch Performance
Benched in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. earlier in the season, Cousins reminded everyone why Atlanta signed him to a $100 million guaranteed contract. After suffering an Achilles tear two years ago, Thursday’s game marked a full-circle moment.
“Pro Football tests you,” Cousins said postgame. “All I know to do is trust, keep going, and walk by faith. Nights like tonight give you a boost.”
Cousins completed 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards, all three touchdowns going to Pitts. The game-winning drive included a third-and-28 conversion, followed by a crucial fourth-and-14 completion to David Sills V that set up Gonzalez’s winning kick.
Late Heroics and Controversial Moment
Trailing 28-14 early in the fourth quarter, Atlanta began their comeback with a 6-yard touchdown run by Bijan Robinson. After a missed 2-point attempt, the Falcons narrowed the score to 28-20.
A few plays later, Dee Alford intercepted Baker Mayfield, setting up Cousins’ third TD pass to Pitts, a leaping 7-yard grab with 3:34 remaining. Another failed 2-point attempt left the score at 28-26.
Tampa Bay punted, and Atlanta got the ball back at their own 30-yard line with no timeouts and 1:49 on the clock. Cousins was sacked by Haason Reddick, who forced a fumble. The Bucs thought they recovered, but officials ruled a simultaneous recovery — Falcons ball.
From there, Cousins hit Pitts for 14 yards, then found Sills to convert fourth down, placing Atlanta within field goal range. Gonzalez’s kick sailed through as time expired.
Kyle Pitts Makes History
Tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. had a monster night, hauling in 11 receptions for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns, becoming the first tight end since Shannon Sharpe in 1996 to record 150+ yards and 3 scores in a single game.
Pitts was wide open on his first two touchdowns, catching an 8-yard score in the first quarter and a 17-yarder just before halftime. His final touchdown was a contested, acrobatic leap in tight coverage.
“I don’t want tight ends that blend in,” Cousins said, praising Pitts’ unique ability to change the game.
Mayfield’s Mistakes Prove Costly
Baker Mayfield, who had all of his top weapons available for the first time this season, completed 23 of 32 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns. But his fourth-quarter interception flipped momentum.
“This one is gonna haunt me,” Mayfield said. “It falls on my shoulders. It’s not the defense’s fault. It’s my fault.”
Tampa Bay’s offense had built a 28-14 lead thanks to Mayfield’s touchdown passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr., along with a 2-point conversion to Godwin. But the unit stalled late, and Mayfield’s pick shifted control to Atlanta.
Creamsicle Nostalgia Turned Sour
Wearing their iconic Creamsicle uniforms on the 48th anniversary of the franchise’s first win, the Buccaneers hoped for a celebratory night. Instead, fans booed them off the field after the collapse.
Head coach Todd Bowles delivered a fiery postgame message, clearly fed up:
“You got to (bleeping) care enough where the (bleep) hurts. It’s more than a job. It’s your (bleeping) livelihood… You can’t sugarcoat that (bleep).”
Evans Returns, But It’s Not Enough
Mike Evans, returning from a broken clavicle, caught six passes for 132 yards and drew multiple penalties. Also back was Jalen McMillan, who hadn’t played since breaking three vertebrae in the preseason.
Bowles praised Evans: “He’s one of the ones that cares.”
Other Notables
- Chase McLaughlin, Tampa’s kicker, hit field goals from 52 and 49 yards. He remains 10-for-10 on kicks 50+ yards this season.
- Bijan Robinson scored his first touchdown since Week 10.
- David Sills V came up big in the final minute with a clutch fourth-down catch.
- The Falcons’ defense rebounded late, forcing punts and a critical interception.
Injuries
- Falcons: WR Drake London (knee) was inactive; CB Mike Hughes (ankle) exited early.
- Buccaneers: CB Zyon McCollum (hip) left the game; LG Ben Bredeson (knee) remains on injured reserve; four other key defenders inactive.
What’s Next
- Falcons: Travel to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.
- Buccaneers: Begin a two-game stretch against the Carolina Panthers, which could determine the NFC South title.
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