Kirk Cousins leads Falcons to 29-28
comeback victory over the reeling Buccaneers
[December 12, 2025]
By ROB MAADDI
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Maybe Kirk Cousins should've been starting the
entire season.
Cousins threw three touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts Sr., and Zane
Gonzalez kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to complete the
Atlanta Falcons' rally for a 29-28 victory over the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers on Thursday night.
Facing a third-and-28 on the Falcons' final drive, Cousins completed
passes of 14 yards to Pitts and 20 yards on fourth-and-14 to David
Sills V to set up Gonzalez.
The Falcons (5-9) overcame a franchise-record 19 penalties and a
28-14 fourth-quarter deficit to damage Tampa Bay's playoff hopes.
Cousins, who lost his starting job to Michael Penix Jr. last year
after signing a free-agent deal that included $100 million
guaranteed, has owned the Buccaneers since joining the Falcons last
season. He's 3-0 against them with 1,158 yards passing, 11 TDs and
one pick. He finished this one 30 of 44 for 373 yards.
“Pro Football tests you,” Cousins said. “It keeps me on my knees (in
prayer). It’s been a difficult two years since tearing my Achilles.
All I know to do is trust and keep going and walk by faith, not by
sight, and that can be hard sometimes. Nights like tonight, you get
a boost.”
Baker Mayfield threw a crucial interception in the fourth quarter as
the Buccaneers (7-7) lost for the fifth time in six games to fall a
half-game behind Carolina in the NFC South. The four-time defending
division champions face the Panthers (7-6) twice in the final three
games.
“This one is gonna haunt me. It falls on my shoulders,” Mayfield
said. “It's not the defense's fault. It's my fault.”
Wearing their Creamsicle jerseys on the 48th anniversary of the
franchise’s first win — that one came after an 0-26 start — the
Buccaneers were booed off the field.
“You don’t make excuses," Bucs coach Todd Bowles said in an
expletive-laden reaction. "You got to (bleeping) care enough where
the (bleep) hurts. It’s got to (bleeping) mean something to you.
It’s more than a job. It’s your (bleeping) livelihood. How well do
you know your job? How well can you do your job? You can’t sugarcoat
that (bleep).”
After Pitts made a leaping, acrobatic grab for a 7-yard TD with 3:34
remaining to pull the Falcons within 28-26, Cousins was pressured
and threw incomplete on the 2-point conversion try.
The Falcons forced the Buccaneers to punt and got the ball at their
30 with no timeouts and 1:49 to go.
Haason Reddick sacked Cousins, forcing a fumble that the Buccaneers
grabbed coming out of the pile. But officials ruled it was recovered
by both team simultaneously, and the Falcons kept the ball.
Pitts finished with 11 catches for 166 yards, becoming the first
tight end with 150 yards receiving and three TDs since Hall of Famer
Shannon Sharpe did it in 1996.
Mayfield tossed a 6-yard TD pass to Devin Culp, the second-year
pro’s first scoring reception in the NFL that made it 20-14.
On the ensuing drive, Sills dropped what should have been a 44-yard
TD catch and the Falcons ended up punting.
Bijan Robinson fumbled on Atlanta’s next possession after taking a
shot from Christian Izien and Jacob Parrish recovered at the Falcons
25.
[to top of second column] |
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (8) celebrates his
touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of
an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP
Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Mayfield fired a 3-yard TD pass to Chris Godwin Jr.
and the two connected for the 2-point conversion to extend the lead
to 28-14.
But Robinson’s 6-yard TD run cut the deficit to 28-20 with under 10
minutes left. After the Falcons missed the 2-point try, Dee Alford
picked Mayfield’s pass and Atlanta drove 67 yards for a score.
Mayfield had all of his wide receivers available for the first time
this season after six-time Pro Bowl pick Mike Evans and second-year
pro Jalen McMillan were activated from injured reserve. Evans broke
his clavicle on Oct. 20. McMillan broke three vertebrae in his neck
in the preseason.
Evans made an immediate impact, catching six passes for 132 yards
and drawing several penalties.
“He's one of the ones that cares,” Bowles said.
Pitts was wide open for his first two TD catches. He caught a
17-yard pass from Cousins to give the Falcons a 14-10 lead under one
minute left in the first half.
Cousins tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Pitts to tie it at 7, one play
after an offside penalty on cornerback Zyon McCollum during a field
goal gave Atlanta a first down.
Cousins beat the Buccaneers twice last year in his first season with
Atlanta. He threw for 785 yards, eight touchdowns and only one
interception. He had 509 yards passing against them in one of the
wins.
Chase’s leg
Tampa Bay's Chase McLaughlin connected on field goals of 52 and 49
yards. He’s 10 for 10 from 50 yards or beyond.
Injuries
Falcons: WR Drake London (knee) was inactive. ... CB Mike Hughes
(ankle) left in the first quarter.
Buccaneers: McCollum (hip) left in the first half. ... LG Ben
Bredeson (knee) was out after being placed 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.
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