Falcons Secure 29-28 Victory Over Buccaneers With Last-Minute Field Goal

Post by : Mara Rahim

The Atlanta Falcons triumphed with a nail-biting 29-28 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, thanks to Zane Gonzalez's 43-yard field goal as the clock expired. After trailing by 14 points in the closing quarter, the Falcons mounted an impressive comeback. With just two minutes remaining, they regained possession at their own 30-yard line following a Tampa Bay punt. On a pivotal fourth-and-14 play, Kirk Cousins connected with David Sills V for a 21-yard gain, advancing the ball to the Buccaneers’ 36-yard line. Gonzalez then completed the comeback with the game-winning kick.

Cousins had a standout performance, completing 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards, alongside three touchdowns. Kyle Pitts Sr. emerged as a key player, recording 166 yards and three touchdowns from 11 receptions. Despite this victory, the Falcons displayed issues with discipline, amassing a franchise-high 19 penalties for 125 yards. Nevertheless, they celebrated their fifth win of the season after enduring seven losses in the previous eight matches.

On the other side, Tampa Bay's quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 277 yards, tallying two touchdowns and one interception. The Buccaneers, now holding a 7-7 record, have suffered five defeats in their last six outings, jeopardizing their position in the NFC South as they fall half a game behind the Carolina Panthers.

Tampa Bay initially took the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Sean Tucker, and the two teams traded scores throughout the opening half. Cousins found Pitts for two early touchdowns, while Tampa relied on Chase McLaughlin’s field goals to stay competitive. The Buccaneers led 20-14 in the third quarter after a lengthy 90-yard drive, subsequently extending their advantage to 28-14 early in the fourth, driven by a fumble recovery and a touchdown from Chris Godwin.

Atlanta's comeback started with Bijan Robinson scoring on a 6-yard rush. Dee Alford’s interception of Mayfield paved the way for another Falcons touchdown as Pitts netted his third score of the evening. Both two-point conversion attempts fell short, leaving Tampa Bay ahead 28-26 until the game's dying moments.

The Falcons' final possession, driven by Cousins and capped off by Gonzalez, resulted in one of the most exhilarating wins of the season. Atlanta's resilience, effective late-game execution, and Pitts’ three-touchdown effort contributed significantly to their narrow yet emotional victory over their NFC South rivals, igniting hope among fans for the remainder of the season.