Eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter on Thursday night to upend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-28 in an NFC South rivalry game.
The upset knocked the Bucs out of first place in the division and put the Carolina Panthers on top by one-half game. With its fifth loss in its past six games, including a 24-20 setback to NFC South cellar-dweller New Orleans on Sunday, Tampa Bay dropped to 7-7 for the 2025 season.
The 7-6 Panthers play the Saints on Sunday with an opportunity to take a one-game lead in the division standings heading into the final three weeks of the season. Carolina and Tampa Bay play on Dec. 21 and Jan. 4.
Zane Gonzalez kicked a 43-yard field on the final snap of the game after Atlanta converted on fourth-and-14 with 30 seconds remaining.
Tampa Bay had taken a 28-14 lead with 13:34 to play on quarterback Baker Mayfield’s second touchdown pass of the second half.
Bijan Robinson, who had 93 rushing and 82 receiving yards, scored on a 6-yard run with 9:37 remaining, and tight end Kyle Pitts, who had 11 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns, caught a 7-yard TD pass with 3:34 left to get Atlanta back in the game.
The Falcons’ 2-point conversion try after Pitts’ third touchdown failed, leaving Atlanta two points behind.
The Falcons regained possession with 1:49 to play. After almost losing a fumble on a sack and getting a holding penalty, Atlanta faced second-and-28. But quarterback Kirk Cousins had consecutive completions of 14 and 21 yards to get the Falcons into Tampa Bay territory to set up the winning kick.
Six players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida:
- Buccaneers safety Marcus Banks (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
- Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell (Alabama) did not record any stats.
- Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant (Hillcrest-Evergreen) made five tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up one pass. An undrafted rookie, Bryant had played 15 defensive snaps in three games this season before Thursday night. But when cornerback Mike Hughes got hurt in the first quarter, Bryant went the rest of the way in the Atlanta secondary.
- Jamel Dean (Auburn) started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made five tackles.
- Falcons inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison (Alabama) did not record any stats.
- Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
- Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley, Troy) did not record any stats.
- Buccaneers defensive tackle Jayson Jones (Calera, Auburn) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
- Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) started at wide receiver for the Falcons. Mooney had three receptions for 35 yards, including a 6-yarder to advance Atlanta to the 25-yard line for the game-deciding field goal.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
In its next game, Tampa Bay plays the Panthers at noon CST Dec. 21 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Atlanta (5-9) plays the Arizona Cardinals at 3:05 p.m. Dec. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
