Maybe Kirk Cousins should’ve been starting the entire season.
On a night when Atlanta looked dead in the water, the veteran quarterback engineered a stunning fourth-quarter comeback and lifted the Falcons to a 29–28 win over the Buccaneers on a walk-off 43-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez.
The Falcons trailed 28–14 early in the fourth and were buried under a franchise-record 19 penalties, but Cousins delivered when it mattered. Facing 3rd-and-28 on the final drive, he hit Kyle Pitts Sr. for 14 yards, then fired a clutch 20-yard completion on 4th-and-14 to David Sills V to keep Atlanta’s hopes alive. Gonzalez drilled the game-winner as time expired.
Cousins, who lost his starting job to Michael Penix Jr. after signing a free-agent deal with $100 million guaranteed, has dominated Tampa Bay since arriving in Atlanta. He’s now 3–0 against the Buccaneers, with 1,158 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and only one interception. He finished Thursday’s win 30 of 44 for 373 yards.
Wide receiver Kyle Pitts Sr. had his best outing as a pro, hauling in 11 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first tight end since 1996 to post 150+ yards and three scores. His highlight-reel 7-yard grab with 3:34 left brought Atlanta within 28–26, though the Falcons failed on the 2-point attempt.
Tampa Bay, celebrating the 48th anniversary of the franchise’s first win and wearing their Creamsicle throwbacks, couldn’t close. Baker Mayfield threw for two touchdowns but tossed a costly interception late. The Buccaneers (7–7) have now dropped five of six, falling a half-game behind Carolina in the NFC South.
Mayfield connected with Devin Culp for his first career TD and later hit Chris Godwin Jr. from 3 yards out, following a Bijan Robinson fumble that set up a short field. The Bucs pushed the lead to 28–14 before Robinson answered with a 6-yard touchdown run. After Atlanta’s missed 2-point try, Dee Alford picked off Mayfield, setting up a 67-yard touchdown drive capped by Pitts’ third score.
A late sack-fumble by Haason Reddick nearly ended the Falcons’ hopes, but officials ruled the play a simultaneous recovery, allowing Atlanta to keep possession before the decisive drive.
Mike Evans, returning from a broken clavicle, caught six passes for 132 yards and drew multiple penalties in his first game back.
Injuries
*Falcons: WR Drake London (knee) was inactive. CB Mike Hughes (ankle) exited in the first quarter.
Buccaneers: CB Zyon McCollum (hip) left in the first half. LG Ben Bredeson (knee) remained out on injured reserve. DB Tykee Smith (neck/shoulder), LB SirVocea Dennis (hip), TE Cade Otton (knee) and CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) were inactive.*
Up next:
*Falcons: Visit Arizona next Sunday.
Buccaneers: Visit Carolina next Sunday.*
