Pitts in Sharpe's company with rare 3-TD night in Falcons' win - ESPN

TAMPA, Fla. — Kyle Pitts had one of the best performances by a tight end in NFL history in the Atlanta Falcons' 29-28 come-from-behind win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium.

Pitts caught 11 passes for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns, making him the first tight end to reach at least 150 yards with three touchdowns in a game since Shannon Sharpe in 1996, according to ESPN Research. Only five tight ends have reached those totals in a game since 1970: Pitts, Sharpe, Kellen Winslow in 1983, Todd Christensen in 1983 and Rich Caster in 1972.

«It means a lot,» Pitts said. "[Sharpe] is a great person to be behind, or beside now. Just want to keep competing and just put another one on tape."

Pitts' touchdown catches from quarterback Kirk Cousins were for 8 yards, 17 yards and 7 yards. The last one got the Falcons within 28-26 with 4:48 left. Pitts made the catch and barely stayed in bounds with his backside landing in the end zone.

«I definitely thought I got the second foot down,» Pitts said. «I didn't know it was my cheek.»

The Falcons failed to tie the score on a 2-point conversion attempt, but Pitts had another reception for 14 yards on the final drive to help get them into field goal position. Kicker Zane Gonzalez made a game-winning 43-yard kick as time ran out.

This was Pitts' first 100-yard receiving game since 2021, his rookie season. He went over 100 yards with two touchdowns in the first half, the first Falcons player to do that since Calvin Ridley in 2018.

«He's just a talented player who can really separate,» Cousins said of Pitts. «Again, [offensive coordinator] Zac [Robinson] did a great job drawing up a couple red zone plays for him where he could make a play.… There was even a