The NFL Week 15 schedule kicked off on Thursday night time with the Atlanta Falcons beautiful the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 29-28, with a late fourth-quarter comeback that would dramatically change the NFC South race. Listed below are some key takeaways from the Falcons win.
Buccaneers’ late-season collapse continues
At one level this season, the Buccaneers had been 6-2 and in full and complete management of one of many NFL’s weakest divisions. With Thursday’s loss, they’re now 7-7 and have misplaced 5 of their previous six video games, placing them right into a battle with the Carolina Panthers for the division.
Whereas accidents have performed a giant position in Tampa Bay’s current struggles, there could be no excuse for this loss.
That is dangerous.
Not solely did have their key gamers on offense again — together with vast receiver Mike Evans, who was improbable in his return to the lineup — they had been taking part in a Falcons workforce that was already mathematically eradicated from playoff competition. It was a Falcons workforce that was additionally taking part in Kirk Cousins, who’s clearly a fraction of what he was at his peak, at quarterback and a workforce that dedicated 19 penalties.
Even worse than all of that, the Buccaneers had a 14-point lead early within the fourth quarter, and even stopped Atlanta on two two-point conversion makes an attempt after its touchdowns.
Not even that was sufficient for the Buccaneers.
A Baker Mayfield interception, after which a failed try and run out the clock on their final offensive possession, gave Atlanta the alternatives it wanted.
It took benefit and even transformed a 4th-and-14 with the sport on the road and below a minute to play.
Tampa Bay had each alternative to win this recreation and put it away. It failed in all of them.
Kyle Pitts performed just like the Kyle Pitts Atlanta at all times needed to see
When the Falcons drafted Pitts with a top-10 choose, there was the expectation he can be a matchup nightmare in the course of the sector and assist remodel their offense.
His profession thus far has been stuffed with inconsistency and frustration.
On Thursday, he gave the Falcons a style of what they at all times needed to see, catching 11 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, together with an enormous landing late within the fourth quarter.
