NFL scores: Falcons spoil Bucs’ playoff hopes behind Kyle Pitts’ big night

It was a close NFC South matchup between the team. Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night, and the latter wanted to play spoiler.

Falconswho were eliminated from the playoffs last week, made it difficult for the Bucs to win the division after Zane Gonzalez's field goal in a 29-28 victory.

Tampa Bay is now 7-7 on the year, having lost its last two games, while the Falcons are 5-9.

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One of the game's big storylines was the return of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, who has been sidelined since Week 4 with a collarbone injury.

While many wondered if the Bucs would be able to count him out instantly, that wasn't the case as a quarterback. Baker Mayfield I really enjoyed giving him the ball in this one. Evans finished with 132 yards on just six catches and led the Bucs in the passing game.

However, Evans' impressive performance was nothing compared to Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts' career performance on Thursday Night Football. In the absence of star receiver Drake London, Pitts became Kirk Cousins' favorite target that night.

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The 6-foot-6 tight end had three touchdown catches and 166 yards on 11 catches as he and Cousins ​​found a quick connection early and it came together late in the game.

After Mayfield was picked by Dee Alford in a 28–20 game, Cousins ​​and the Falcons offense had an opportunity to march down the field and tie the game, provided they scored a touchdown and successfully converted the two-point conversion.

Cousins, who had already found Pitts twice, threw a pass to his trusty tight end, who secured it and managed to stay in bounds for his third score of the night. A video review was necessary to determine whether he remained in bounds, and although his elbow appeared to be exposed, his rear end immediately struck the turf in bounds. Because officials initially called a touchdown, it was not enough to overturn the score.

But the Bucs still led by two and needed a big stop in a two-point game. They succeeded, as Cousins ​​was in a hurry and the pass was left incomplete.

Mayfield, who had two touchdown passes to Chris Godwin and Devin Culp in the game, knew they could ice the game with a few first downs on the ensuing drive. But backed up on third-and-14, Mayfield was sacked after the two-minute warning.

Cousins ​​had no timeouts to work with after he got the ball back, and it was an inauspicious start to the offense when he was sacked and the game could have been over right then and there.

But the ruling was that both the Bucs and Falcons had the ball, meaning the tie went to the team that was on offense. It still brought Cousins ​​back to second-and-18, which turned into second-and-28 due to a holding penalty that was called after an incompletion.

Cousins, however, used Pitts and David Sills V to get the yardage needed to keep the drive going. The Falcons were within field goal range for Gonzalez, who ultimately buried the 43-yarder for the win.

The Bucs led 28-14 going into the fourth quarter, but a defensive breakdown at the worst possible time ultimately cost them the win.

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On the sidelines, Cousins ​​was phenomenal in prime time, passing for 373 yards and connecting with Pitts three times.

And we can't forget about Bijan Robinson, the league leader in scrimmage yards, who totaled 175 yards (93 rushing, 82 receiving) on ​​27 total touches for Atlanta.

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