Atlanta defeated Tampa Bay 29-28 at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2025. Zane Gonzalez connected on a 43-yard field goal as time expired. Kyle Pitts caught 11 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, Kirk Cousins threw for 373 yards and three scores, and Bijan Robinson totaled 175 yards from scrimmage with a rushing touchdown. Mike Evans returned from injury with six receptions for 132 yards, while Baker Mayfield completed 19 of 34 passes for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for Tampa Bay.
Table of Contents
Passing Statistics
| Quarterback | Completions | Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Sacks | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirk Cousins (ATL) | 30 | 44 | 373 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 116.9 |
| Baker Mayfield (TB) | 19 | 34 | 277 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 90.0 |
Cousins completed 68.2% of his passes and averaged 8.5 yards per attempt. He has thrown for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns across three games versus Tampa Bay over the past two seasons, the most by any quarterback against a single opponent during that span per NFL Research.
Tampa Bay’s interior offensive line struggled throughout the contest. The line allowed five sacks. Mayfield’s fourth quarter interception, picked off by Dee Alford at the Atlanta 33, proved costly. The Buccaneers led 28-20.
Rushing Attack
| Running Back | Team | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | 19 | 93 | 4.9 | 1 | 14 |
| Bucky Irving | TB | 16 | 60 | 3.8 | 0 | 16 |
| Tyler Allgeier | ATL | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 15 |
| Rachaad White | TB | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 0 | 20 |
| Sean Tucker | TB | 4 | 7 | 1.8 | 1 | 6 |
Robinson extended his streak to nine consecutive division games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage, the longest such streak in Falcons history according to Atlanta’s official recap. He added 82 receiving yards on eight catches, giving him 175 total yards.
The passing game featured historic tight end production.
Receiving Leaders
Atlanta Falcons
| Receiver | Position | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Pitts Sr. | TE | 11 | 12 | 166 | 3 | 36 |
| Bijan Robinson | RB | 8 | 11 | 82 | 0 | 21 |
| David Sills V | WR | 6 | 10 | 78 | 0 | 21 |
| Darnell Mooney | WR | 3 | 6 | 35 | 0 | 16 |
| Charlie Woerner | TE | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 8 |
Pitts became the first tight end since Shannon Sharpe in 1996 to record 150-plus receiving yards and three touchdowns in a single game. The fifth-year pro scored on passes of 8, 17, and 7 yards. His 11 receptions, 166 yards, and three touchdowns are all career highs.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Receiver | Position | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Evans | WR | 6 | 12 | 132 | 0 | 45 |
| Emeka Egbuka | WR | 4 | 7 | 64 | 0 | 23 |
| Jalen McMillan | WR | 2 | 2 | 38 | 0 | 19 |
| Chris Godwin Jr. | WR | 4 | 5 | 20 | 1 | 8 |
| Bucky Irving | RB | 1 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Devin Culp | TE | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
Evans returned from a six-week absence after breaking his collarbone on October 20. The six-time Pro Bowler caught a 45-yard pass on a leaping grab over cornerback Cobee Bryant and drew three defensive penalties that resulted in first downs.
McMillan returned from three broken vertebrae suffered during the preseason. His 19-yard catch in the first quarter was initially ruled a touchdown before replay review placed the ball inches short.
Defensive Statistics
Top Tacklers
| Player | Team | Position | Total | Solo | Assists | Sacks | TFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antoine Winfield Jr. | TB | S | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Watts | ATL | S | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | ATL | S | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Izien | TB | S | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Deion Jones | TB | LB | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaden Elliss | ATL | LB | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Winfield recorded a game-high 13 tackles, but Atlanta scored 15 fourth quarter points. Elliss recorded his 11th tackle for loss, becoming just the fourth player in Falcons history with multiple seasons of at least 10 tackles for loss.
Pass Rush Leaders
| Player | Team | Position | Sacks | QB Hits | Hurries | Pressures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Pearce Jr. | ATL | ED | 2.0 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Haason Reddick | TB | ED | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Brandon Dorlus | ATL | DI | 1.0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Jalon Walker | ATL | ED | 0.5 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Yaya Diaby | TB | ED | 0.0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
Rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. notched two sacks in the first half. His season total reached 8.0, which broke the Falcons franchise record for most sacks by a rookie since the statistic became official in 1982 per NFL.com.
Tampa Bay managed just one sack of Cousins despite frequent blitzing. According to Pro Football Focus, Cousins went 10 of 17 for 122 yards and a touchdown when under pressure.
Special Teams
| Kicker | Team | Field Goals | Extra Points | Long | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zane Gonzalez | ATL | 1/1 | 2/2 | 43 | 5 |
| Chase McLaughlin | TB | 2/2 | 2/2 | 52 | 8 |
Gonzalez connected on the game winner from 43 yards as time expired. McLaughlin made both attempts, including a 52-yarder at halftime. The veteran kicker is now 10 for 10 on field goals from 50 yards or beyond this season.
| Punter | Team | Punts | Yards | Average | Inside 20 | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley Pinion | ATL | 4 | 170 | 42.5 | 2 | 53 |
| Riley Dixon | TB | 4 | 165 | 41.3 | 2 | 45 |
Both punters placed half their attempts inside the 20-yard line. Kameron Johnson muffed one punt for Tampa Bay but recovered it to avoid a turnover.
Third Down and Red Zone Efficiency
| Team | Third Down | Rate | Fourth Down | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 5/11 | 45.5% | 1/5 | 20.0% |
| Tampa Bay | 4/10 | 40.0% | 0/0 | N/A |
The Falcons struggled on third down through three quarters before converting crucial attempts on the final drive.
| Team | Red Zone Trips | Touchdowns | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 4 | 4 | 100% |
| Tampa Bay | 3 | 3 | 100% |
Both teams scored touchdowns on every red zone trip.
| Team | Possession | Total Plays | Yards Per Play | Total Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 31:51 | 66 | 7.2 | 476 |
| Tampa Bay | 28:09 | 61 | 5.5 | 338 |
Atlanta’s 476 total yards was the most Tampa Bay has allowed this season according to ESPN.
Mistakes and Discipline
Atlanta fumbled three times but lost only one. Bijan Robinson’s fourth quarter fumble gave Tampa Bay possession at the Atlanta 25. Tampa Bay scored on the possession to take a 28-14 lead. Center Ryan Neuzil recovered a Darnell Mooney fumble in the red zone and preserved Atlanta’s comeback hopes.
Mayfield’s fourth quarter interception led directly to a Falcons touchdown that cut the deficit to 28-26.
| Team | Penalties | Yards | First Downs Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 19 | 125 | 7 |
| Tampa Bay | 4 | 25 | 0 |
The Falcons set a franchise record with 19 accepted penalties, the most by any NFL team this season per Atlanta’s stats recap. Zyon McCollum’s offside penalty on a field goal attempt gave Atlanta a first down. The Falcons scored a touchdown on that drive. The Buccaneers also committed a holding penalty on special teams that pinned their offense at their own 10-yard line.
Fourth Quarter Comeback
Tampa Bay led 28-14 with 13:29 remaining after scoring 14 unanswered third quarter points. Robinson’s six-yard touchdown run capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive. A failed two-point conversion left the score at 28-20.
Mayfield’s interception on the next possession gave Atlanta excellent field position at their own 33. Seven plays later, Cousins found Pitts for his third touchdown, but another failed two-point attempt left the Buccaneers ahead 28-26 with 3:34 remaining.
Tampa Bay went three and out and lost yardage. Reddick sacked Cousins and forced a fumble, but officials ruled both teams recovered simultaneously and gave Atlanta possession. On third and 28, Cousins hit Pitts for 14 yards, then found Sills for 20 yards on fourth and 14. Gonzalez’s 43-yard field goal ended it three plays later.
Individual Performances
Kyle Pitts had one touchdown reception this season before Thursday night. His three-score effort represented the best performance of his five-year career. The 2021 fourth overall pick will become a free agent after this season.
James Pearce Jr. now has 8.0 sacks in 15 games. The rookie recorded 7.5 of those in the past six games. Evans caught six passes for 132 yards and drew three penalties, including two pass interference calls on deep routes that set up touchdowns.
Division Standings
Tampa Bay fell to 7-7 from 7-6. Carolina also fell to 7-7 after losing to New Orleans 20-17 on December 15.
Tampa Bay holds the tiebreaker over Carolina based on head-to-head record and maintains first place in the division. The Buccaneers need one win in their remaining two matchups against the Panthers to clinch their fifth consecutive division title. The first of those games takes place at Carolina on December 22.
Atlanta improved to 5-9 but had already been eliminated from playoff contention after their Week 14 loss to Seattle. The Falcons visit Arizona on December 22.
Coaching Comments
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles delivered a blunt postgame assessment. “You got to care enough where the [expletive] hurts,” Bowles told reporters according to official transcripts. “It’s got to mean something to you.”
Bowles’ defense allowed conversions on third and 28 and fourth and 14 on the final drive. The Buccaneers also had 12 men on the field during one crucial play.
Baker Mayfield took responsibility: “This one’s going to haunt me. This falls on my shoulders.”
Atlanta coach Raheem Morris praised his team after overcoming 19 penalties. “These guys are fighters. Went out there and was able to execute.”
Season Impact
The offensive line remains Tampa Bay’s primary concern. With Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch on injured reserve, interior blocking has struggled during the team’s slide from 6-2 to 7-7.
Atlanta faces major offseason decisions including Pitts’ free agency and the quarterback situation. Kirk Cousins demonstrated he can still perform at a high level, but his benching earlier this season raised questions about his long-term role.
This Thursday night result turned on specific plays in critical moments. Ryan Neuzil’s fumble recovery when multiple Buccaneers defenders were in position kept Atlanta’s drive alive. Kyle Pitts’ catch on fourth-and-14 against tight coverage moved the Falcons into field goal range. Those plays determined the outcome as Tampa Bay’s 28-14 lead disappeared in the final 13 minutes. Newzire tracks NFL division races and playoff scenarios.
