<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-bijan-robinson-apologizes-for-insensitive-comment-on-tnf-postgame-show');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Bijan Robinson apologizes for ‘insensitive comment’ on TNF postgame show');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Falcons-running-back-Bijan-Robinson.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Bijan Robinson apologizes for ‘insensitive comment’ on TNF postgame show</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T06:46:45-08:00">December 12th, 6:46am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T06:46:45-08:00">December 12th, 6:46am</time><address><a>Gerard Angelo Samillano</a>Gerard Angelo Samillano is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, with his focus primarily on the NBA, NFL, MLB and NCAA Football. When he's not writing for CP, Gerard can often be seen playing VALORANT or playing pick-up basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After weeks of struggling, the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-heroics-buccaneers-epic-comeback"> Atlanta Falcons were finally able to get a win.</a> Behind an all-around performance from running back Bijan Robinson and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-no-idea-butt-saved-him-third-td-vs-buccaneers">Kyle Pitts’ career-best gam</a>e, Atlanta defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-28. Already eliminated from playoff contention, the Falcons were at least able to play spoiler against their division rivals.</p><p>However, Robinson had a slight gaffe in the PR department after the win. The Falcons running back appeared on Amazon’s post-game show to have a little fun with the crew. There, Robinson made a reference to an old children’s game that had a, let’s say, questionable name today.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">bijan says smear the queer and someone tried to say “kill the carrier” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 <a href="https://t.co/Zy6WbKKRFz">pic.twitter.com/Zy6WbKKRFz</a></p><p>— POPES NEW JARGIN (@BearsCatsBulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/BearsCatsBulls/status/1999343361497477165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>While the game was popular back then, the name has since been deemed inappropriate due to its name. Instead, it’s been called a different name, “kill the carrier”. Robinson apologized on X for his inappropriate language after the game.</p><p>“Hey everyone I want to apologize for the insensitive comment I made in the broadcast, it was a football game we used to play as a kid but that’s not an excuse,” Robinson posted on X. “I recognize the mistake and make sure to do better in the future. It was not reflective of my beliefs and I am so sorry to those I offended seriously!”</p><p>Robinson had an excellent day against the Buccaneers. The star running back had 93 yards and one touchdown on the ground, and added eight catches for 82 yards as a receiver.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Bijan Robinson apologizes for ‘insensitive comment’ on TNF postgame show

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-falcons-4th-down-conversion-hadnt-happened-tampa-bay-5-years');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ 4th-down conversion hadn’t happened to Buccaneers in 5 years');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-head-coach-and-defensive-coordinator-Todd-Bowles-looks-on-before-the-game-against-the-Atlanta-Falcons-at-Raymond-James-Stadium.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ 4th-down conversion hadn’t happened to Buccaneers in 5 years</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T06:16:37-08:00">December 12th, 6:16am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T06:16:37-08:00">December 12th, 6:16am</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For five seasons, Todd Bowles’ defense had lived on the right side of NFL trivia. That streak ended Thursday night in gut-wrenching fashion. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surrendered a fourth-and-14 conversion <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-tristan-wirfs-cant-believe-insane-collapse-vs-falcons">during their 29-28 Week 15 collapse</a> against the Atlanta Falcons. It marked the first time since 2020 that Tampa Bay failed to stop an opponent on fourth-and-14 or longer. Before that moment, the Bucs had turned away eight straight such attempts. They have built a quiet reputation for long-yardage resilience. That, however, vanished at the worst possible time.</p><p>The breakdown came late in Atlanta’s stunning 15-0 fourth-quarter rally. That was when Kirk Cousins converted the pivotal fourth down to keep the drive alive. It was the kind of snap Bowles’ defenses typically feast on, but coverage lapses and a lack of pressure opened the door. <a href="https://x.com/gregauman/status/1999354417984975119" rel="noopener">The historical echo was cruel</a>: the last time it happened, Daniel Jones hit Sterling Shepard on fourth-and-16 in 2020. Yet, Tampa Bay still escaped that game with a W. This time, there was no such consolation.</p><p>The conversion loomed large in a brutal Week 15 loss that saw the Buccaneers squander a 28-14 fourth-quarter lead. Atlanta followed the fourth-down escape by marching into range for Zane Gonzalez’s walk-off field goal. It capped a Tampa Bay night defined by missed chances and defensive breakdowns. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-baker-mayfield-shoulders-blame-4th-quarter-collapse-falcons">Baker Mayfield’s late interception</a> only compounded the damage. It turned a potential clincher into catastrophe.</p><p>At 7-7, Tampa Bay now finds itself in a tight NFC South race instead of firm control. Meanwhile, the Falcons walk away with a morale-boosting comeback that reshaped the division race. For the Buccaneers, the sting isn’t just knowing a five-year standard crumbled on one snap. It’s that they may no longer recover from this late season downward spiral.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ 4th-down conversion hadn’t happened to Buccaneers in 5 years

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-admits-comeback-win-morale-boost-after-tough-atlanta-stint');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kirk Cousins admits comeback win is a morale ‘boost’ after tough Falcons stint');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/What-Baker-Mayfield-says-doesnt-get-you-st-after-imploding-vs.-Falcons.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Kirk Cousins admits comeback win is a morale ‘boost’ after tough Falcons stint</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T06:00:05-08:00">December 12th, 6:00am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T06:00:05-08:00">December 12th, 6:00am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons got a huge upset win on Thursday Night Football. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-raheem-morris-stepping-stone-comeback-win-buccaneers">Atlanta beat Tampa Bay 29-28</a> in an impressive comeback win in hostile territory. The win was obviously a huge relief for Falcons fans, but it had some special significance for one Falcons player.</p><p>Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins admitted that Thursday’s win against the Buccaneers was <a href="https://x.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1999348018550833739" rel="noopener">huge from a morale standpoint</a>.</p><p>Cousins told reporters after the game that nights like Thursday night are “a bit of a boost” for him, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He <a href="https://apnews.com/article/falcons-buccaneers-score-c848c5ccd481c5cb3931201641daee44" rel="noopener">cited his Achilles injury</a> as one reason that his stint in Atlanta has been hard.</p><p>“It’s been a difficult two years since tearing my Achilles,” Cousins said via the Associated Press. “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.”</p><p>However, the veteran quarterback made it clear that Atlanta’s win was a team victory.</p><p>Cousins has experienced plenty of adversity since <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/grading-kirk-cousins-4-year-180-million-contract-with-falcons">signing a $180 million contract</a> with the Falcons back in 2024. But it is good to see him have a moment of glory now that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-michael-penix-jrs-latest-acl-injury-requires-season-ending-surgery">Michael Penix Jr. is done for the season</a> with an ACL injury.</p><p>Cousins played a great game on Thursday Night Football. He went 30-of-44 for 373 yards and three touchdowns. His connection with tight end Kyle Pitts was on point, as he hauled in 11 receptions for 166 yards and all three of Cousins’ touchdowns.</p><p>Atlanta also got a good game from Bijan Robinson, who had 19 carries for 93 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also added eight receptions for 82 receiving yards.</p><p>Ultimately, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-2-things-atlanta-tnf-comeback-buccaneers">Cousins was proud of his team</a> after the big win.</p><p>“I think our group just shared character and resiliency in a short week. We’re just so grateful that we found a way (to win),” Cousins concluded, per Falcons reporter Terrin Waack.</p><p>Now the Falcons have some extra time to rest before Week 16.</p><p>Next up for Atlanta is a matchup against Arizona on December 21st.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kirk Cousins admits comeback win is a morale ‘boost’ after tough Falcons stint

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-most-blame-loss-falcons-week-15-2025');   ga('set', 'title', 'Buccaneers most to blame for epic TNF collapse against Falcons');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/%E2%9A%A1%EF%B8%8FBuccaneers-most-to-blame-for-epic-TNF-collapse-against-Falcons.jpg"></figure><h1>Buccaneers most to blame for epic TNF collapse against Falcons</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T05:36:28-08:00">December 12th, 5:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T05:36:28-08:00">December 12th, 5:36am</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Thursday night was supposed to be a turning point for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A prime-time stage, divisional stakes, and a chance to steady a season that had quietly slipped off course after a 6–2 start. Instead, it turned into the defining low point of their 2025 campaign. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-tristan-wirfs-cant-believe-insane-collapse-vs-falcons">Tampa Bay’s stunning 29–28 collapse</a> against the Atlanta Falcons was a referendum on everything that has gone wrong over the past six weeks. Fans witnessed missed tackles, missed assignments, and missed opportunities. When the moment demanded composure and execution, the Buccaneers delivered chaos instead. At 7–7 and suddenly clinging to fading playoff hopes, the Bucs exposed the structural cracks threatening to pull the entire season apart.</p><h2><b>A meltdown to forget</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Baker-Mayfield.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Buccaneers appeared in full control late into the third quarter of this clash. Baker Mayfield had thrown three early touchdown passes. The offense was moving efficiently, and Tampa Bay carried a commanding 28–14 lead into the fourth quarter. The Falcons, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-painful-irony-loss-to-falcons-despite-19-penalties">sloppy and penalty-prone</a>, looked overwhelmed.</p><p>Then everything unraveled.</p><p>Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins engineered a ruthless 15–0 comeback. He just carved up a Tampa Bay defense that seemed to forget how to tackle, cover, or communicate. Tight end Kyle Pitts torched the secondary repeatedly. He finished with three touchdowns, while Bijan Robinson punished defenders in space. Even after Tampa Bay had a golden chance to seal the game on 3rd-and-28, the Bucs failed to put it away. Moments later, Zane Gonzalez drilled a walk-off field goal to complete the collapse.</p><p>Todd Bowles’ profane sideline eruption afterward said what the scoreboard already had: this loss was ‘inexcusable.’ Tampa Bay dropped to a tie atop the NFC South. They are, however, trending sharply in the wrong direction after losing four of their last five games.</p><p>Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Tampa Bay Buccaneers most to blame for <a href="https://www.espn.ph/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401772948" rel="noopener">their primetime Week 15 loss</a> to Falcons.</p><h2><b>QB Baker Mayfield</b></h2><p>On paper, Mayfield had a respectable night. He completed 59 percent of his passes for 250 yards. He spread the ball to seven receivers and reconnected seamlessly with Mike Evans. Early on, Mayfield looked confident, decisive, and capable of leading Tampa Bay to a much-needed win.</p><p>Once again, though, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-baker-mayfield-shoulders-blame-4th-quarter-collapse-falcons">the critical moments told a different story</a>.</p><p>Mayfield was tentative in the pocket when pressure mounted. He took unnecessary sacks instead of throwing the ball away. He absorbed five sacks overall, several of which killed drives or flipped field position. Most damaging was his fourth-quarter interception while holding a seven-point lead. It was an avoidable mistake that swung momentum squarely in Atlanta’s favor.</p><p>The Buccaneers didn’t need hero ball. They needed situational awareness, clock control, and ball security. Instead, Mayfield pressed when patience was required. He continued a troubling trend of turnovers and hesitation in high-leverage moments.</p><h2><b>Offensive line</b></h2><p>The Buccaneers’ offensive line once again failed the moment it mattered most. With Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch sidelined, Tampa Bay’s interior protection collapsed repeatedly. Center Graham Barton was blown off the ball too often. Pressure up the middle made Mayfield uncomfortable throughout the night.</p><p>Pass protection was a consistent liability. Atlanta recorded five sacks and countless pressures, particularly when Tampa Bay tried to drain clock late. On what should have been a game-clinching possession, the line allowed immediate penetration that resulted in a four-yard loss on a Bucky Irving run. Forced into an obvious passing situation, Mayfield was promptly sacked on third down. That handed Atlanta one final opportunity.</p><h2><b>Entire defense</b></h2><p>If there’s a single unit that deserves the harshest scrutiny, it’s Tampa Bay’s defense. Entering the game, expectations were already low. Somehow, the performance still managed to disappoint.</p><p>The pass rush was virtually nonexistent. Outside of Haason Reddick’s lone sack-fumble, the Buccaneers failed to consistently pressure Cousins. The defensive line couldn’t win one-on-one matchups. That left the secondary exposed for extended stretches.</p><p>Linebacker play was particularly damaging. Nick Jackson struggled mightily in coverage and run fits. Meanwhile, Deion Jones offered little resistance. Lavonte David, the emotional leader of the defense, surrendered a crucial late touchdown to Kyle Pitts in coverage. It was an uncharacteristic but costly lapse.</p><p>The secondary was no better. Christian Izien battled but was overmatched early. Zyon McCollum exited early, Benjamin Morrison was a healthy scratch, and coverage busts became routine. The most egregious came on 4th-and-14. That’s when Tampa Bay inexplicably allowed David Sills V to get behind the defense and extend the Falcons’ final drive.</p><p>Bad tackling. Soft zone coverage. Poor communication. The Buccaneers’ defensive performance was a masterclass in how to lose a winnable game.</p><h2><b>Coaching</b></h2><p>Bowles might be on his way out sooner rather than later. Defensively, he stubbornly stuck with zone concepts that Pitts shredded all night. The breaking point came on Atlanta’s final drive. That’s when the Buccaneers somehow had 12 men on the field. They gifted the Falcons a first down and prime field position. That penalty alone could define Bowles’ tenure.</p><p>Offensively, Josh Grizzard showed flashes of creativity. That said, his late-game sequencing was baffling. With a lead and the clock in Tampa Bay’s favor, the play-calling failed to protect the defense or reduce risk.</p><p>When the Buccaneers needed calm leadership and situational mastery, they got disarray instead.</p><h2><b>Season slipping away</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Baker-Mayfield_0043ea.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>This wasn’t just another Thursday night loss. It was a collapse that revealed Tampa Bay’s deepest flaws. These were on the line, on defense, and on the sideline. At .500, the Buccaneers are still mathematically alive in the NFC South. The downward trend, though, is unmistakable.</p><p>Teams don’t stumble into collapses like this by accident. They ‘earn’ them. On Thursday night, the Buccaneers earned every ounce of embarrassment that came with it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Buccaneers most to blame for epic TNF collapse against Falcons

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-raheem-morris-2-word-message-refs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons HC Raheem Morris’ 2-word message to refs after game-winning FG');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Falcons-news-Raheem-Morris-4-word-response-to-controversial-Chiefs-no-DPI-call.jpg"></figure><h1>Falcons HC Raheem Morris’ 2-word message to refs after game-winning FG</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T03:12:54-08:00">December 12th, 3:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T03:19:47-08:00">December 12th, 3:19am</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In a chaotic Thursday night showdown, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-2-things-atlanta-tnf-comeback-buccaneers">the Atlanta Falcons stunned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-28 in Week 15</a> at Raymond James Stadium, completing an astonishing comeback with a last-second 43-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez. Following the win, head coach Raheem Morris couldn’t hold back, <a href="https://x.com/NFLonPrime/status/1999338638149063108" rel="noopener">as he shouted</a>, “Call that,” into the NFL camera — a pointed message to the officials that made his frustration with the officiating clear after a flag-filled night.</p><p>Atlanta committed 19 accepted penalties, setting a franchise record and leading the NFL for the season. The team had 10 penalties in the first half alone, the most by a Falcons squad in a half since 1984. Before Thursday, Atlanta averaged just 5.6 penalties per game.</p><p>Even with the win, Morris is still under the microscope. His future with the team has become a talking point, especially with his 17-25 record over three seasons. The Falcons finished 8-9 last year and missed the playoffs. Now, at 5-9 with three games left and their playoff hopes once again over, the best they can do is match that record.</p><p>Atlanta came alive in the fourth quarter, turning around a 14-point deficit when they had just a 4.8% chance to win. They scored 15 unanswered points and picked up two crucial fumbles to finish the comeback. Rookie linebacker James Pearce Jr. recorded two sacks, giving him eight on the season, a franchise rookie record. Tight end Kyle Pitts caught 11 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first Falcons tight end since Shannon Sharpe in 1996 <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-joins-tight-end-history-game-buccaneers">to achieve over 150 yards and three scores in a game</a>. Running back Bijan Robinson contributed 93 rushing yards on 19 carries and 82 receiving yards on eight catches. It was his fifth game of 150+ scrimmage yards this season.</p><p>Quarterback <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-heroics-buccaneers-epic-comeback">Kirk Cousins completed 30-of-44 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns</a>. Cousins has now surpassed 150 passing yards with two touchdowns in the first half for the third straight game against Tampa Bay. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-fans-dunk-david-sills-v-drops-wide-open-td-buccaneers">David Sills made up for a costly drop</a> with a huge catch on the game-winning drive, and the Falcons clicked on third downs late, converting four of six after an early 1-for-6 start.</p><p>With a short week now behind them, the Falcons will enjoy a mini-bye before traveling to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons HC Raheem Morris’ 2-word message to refs after game-winning FG

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-raheem-morris-stepping-stone-comeback-win-buccaneers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Raheem Morris drops ‘stepping stone’ take after comeback win over Buccaneers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Raheem-Morris-V1.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Raheem Morris drops ‘stepping stone’ take after comeback win over Buccaneers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T23:20:15-08:00">December 11th, 11:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T23:22:36-08:00">December 11th, 11:22pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons could have simply folded after they dug themselves a 14-point hole in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. After all, they had nothing more to lose. They were already out of contention for the playoffs.</p><p>But the Falcons refused to dishonor the game. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-2-things-atlanta-tnf-comeback-buccaneers">They mounted a furious rally led by Kirk Cousins</a> and Kyle Pitts, leading to the game-winning field goal of Zane Gonzalez, as they escaped, 29-28, at Raymond James Stadium.</p><p>While they will miss the playoffs for the eighth straight year, Falcons coach Raheem Morris viewed the victory over the Buccaneers <a href="https://x.com/TerrinWaack/status/1999341294989037762" rel="noopener">as a possible catalyst</a> for a brighter future.</p><p>“It’s a stepping stone to where we want to go,” said Morris, as quoted by Falcons reporter Terrin Waack.</p><p>Cousins turned in a virtuosic performance, throwing for season-highs of 373 yards and three touchdowns. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-joins-tight-end-history-game-buccaneers">Pitts, meanwhile, had a historic game</a> with his three touchdowns and 166 yards.</p><p>The 49-year-old Morris <a href="https://x.com/tori_mcelhaney/status/1999342044788220023" rel="noopener">credited them</a> and less-heralded guys like Ryan Neuzil and David Sills V for stepping up, as shared by Falcons insider Tori McElhaney.</p><p>“(We’ve) been talking about finding a way, that’s finding a way,” added Morris, who’s in his second stint in Atlanta.</p><p>The Falcons, who improved to 5-9, bucked the continued absence of Drake London, who’s nursing a knee injury. They also lost Mike Hughes in the first quarter due to an ankle injury.</p><p>Atlanta also survived despite committing a franchise-record 19 penalties, which cost them 125 yards.</p><p>The Falcons will aim for another stepping stone in Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Raheem Morris drops ‘stepping stone’ take after comeback win over Buccaneers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-no-idea-butt-saved-him-third-td-vs-buccaneers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kyle Pitts had no idea his butt saved him on third TD vs. Buccaneers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Falcons-TE-Kyle-Pitts-secures-a-catch-vs.-Buccaneers.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kyle Pitts had no idea his butt saved him on third TD vs. Buccaneers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T23:01:03-08:00">December 11th, 11:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T23:01:43-08:00">December 11th, 11:01pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Because the Atlanta Falcons (5-9) have been irrelevant for much of the campaign, and the decade and if we’re being frank, it is easy to overlook Kyle Pitts’ late-season surge. The fifth-year tight end is quietly posting his best campaign since he was a rookie and entered Thursday’s NFC South showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers having recorded at least eight catches and 80 yards in his previous two games. He absolutely exploded in Raymond James Stadium, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-joins-tight-end-history-game-buccaneers">scoring three touchdowns</a> in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-heroics-buccaneers-epic-comeback">an improbable 29-28 win</a>.</p><p>His last one, which came with about three and a half minutes left in the game, was crucial, unconventional and highly scrutinized. Pitts fell to the ground while juggling the Kirk Cousins pass and needed to rely on his caboose to secure the seven-yard score. There was much debate about if his backside landed before his elbow went out of bounds, but the TD call stood after an official replay review, and Atlanta pulled within two points of Tampa.</p><p>Pitts himself <a href="https://x.com/TerrinWaack/status/1999347858546602145" rel="noopener">was a bit confused on the play</a>. “I definitely thought I got the second foot down,” the former No. 4 overall draft pick said after his team overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, per beat writer Terrin Waack. “I didn’t know it was my cheek.” Whatever works, right?</p><h2><b>The Falcons TE was unstoppable</b></h2><p>Pitts’ monster outing goes beyond just one play, though. In addition to his three TDs, Pitts totaled 11 receptions on 12 targets for 166 yards. The 25-year-old also snagged a critical 14-yard catch on third-and-28 with 1:20 remaining on the clock, but as @_DTyson and others noted on X, he <a href="https://x.com/_DTyson/status/1999338340009513452" rel="noopener">appeared to jump early</a> on the play.</p><p>While officiating controversy constantly creeps into the end of these prime-time matchups, the Buccaneers had opportunities to salt this one away. The Falcons also had to make a number of impressive plays to earn this uncharacteristically gritty Thursday Night Football victory. Kirk Cousins was masterful, displaying a lethal connection with Kyle Pitts. The former Florida Gators star TE and unanimous All-American <a href="https://x.com/JoshTheAthletic/status/1999347599598383260" rel="noopener">relishes the opportunity</a> to play in The Sunshine State.</p><p>“I love the great state of Florida, yes I do,” he told reporters, per The Athletic’s Josh Kendall. Pitts should feel especially jubilant, for he may have just earned himself a decent chunk of change with his mammoth game. The forthcoming free agent put on quite the show for fans and the rest of the league, and it came at the expense of a divisional foe. That is what one calls a pretty great night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Kyle Pitts had no idea his butt saved him on third TD vs. Buccaneers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-2-things-atlanta-tnf-comeback-buccaneers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kirk Cousins touts 2 things that Falcons showed during TNF comeback');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kirk-Cousins-drops-2-things-that-Atlanta-showed-during-TNF-comeback.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Kirk Cousins touts 2 things that Falcons showed during TNF comeback</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T22:53:53-08:00">December 11th, 10:53pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T22:53:53-08:00">December 11th, 10:53pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After Kirk Cousins led the Atlanta Falcons to a come-from-behind win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday, it had to be asked: You like that?</p><p>The Buccaneers did not, especially <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-todd-bowles-throws-players-under-bus-tnf-meltdown">Todd Bowles, who seemingly threw his players under the bus</a>. But Cousins couldn’t care less, as he enjoyed the Falcons’ one-point victory, 29-28. They improved to 5-9.</p><p>The 37-year-old Cousins delivered a vintage performance, going 30-of-44 for season-highs of 373 yards and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-joins-tight-end-history-game-buccaneers">three touchdowns, all to Kyle Pitts</a>. He had no interceptions and was only sacked once.</p><p>Cousins was proud of their group <a href="https://x.com/TerrinWaack/status/1999347141085462884" rel="noopener">after the gutsy win</a>.</p><p>“I think our group just shared character and resiliency in a short week. We’re just so grateful that we found a way (to win),” said the veteran quarterback, as quoted by Falcons reporter Terrin Waack.</p><p>Cousins has always embodied resolve in his illustrious career. He has been hobbled by injuries and even lost his starting job to Michael Penix Jr. last year. Yet he has never failed to show up.</p><p>In seven games this season, the four-time Pro Bowler has logged a completion rate of 62.6%, throwing for 1,218 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.</p><p>Safe to say, their close win against the Buccaneers <a href="https://apnews.com/article/falcons-buccaneers-score-c848c5ccd481c5cb3931201641daee44" rel="noopener">will be a memorable one</a> for Cousins.</p><p>“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,” said Cousins in a report from the Associated Press.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kirk Cousins touts 2 things that Falcons showed during TNF comeback

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/falcons-news-kirk-cousins-heroics-buccaneers-epic-comeback');   ga('set', 'title', 'Kirk Cousins’ heroics lead Falcons over Buccaneers in epic comeback');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kirk-Cousins.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Kirk Cousins’ heroics lead Falcons over Buccaneers in epic comeback</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T20:58:23-08:00">December 11th, 8:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T22:41:00-08:00">December 11th, 10:41pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Kirk Cousins’ tenure with the Atlanta Falcons will be regarded as a big disappointment when fans dive into the history books ages from now, but the 37-year-old quarterback can still channel his inner Captain Kirk under the right conditions. He and his teammates stunned the home crowd in Raymond James Stadium on Thursday night, handing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-todd-bowles-cant-stop-f-bombs-tnf-meltdown-falcons">devastating 29-28 loss</a>.</p><p>Cousins made a couple of clutch throws on the final drive, overcoming what were seemingly insurmountable odds, and positioned the Falcons for a thrilling comeback win over their divisional rival. Zane Gonzalez capped off the heroic fourth quarter with a <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1999337569117700179" rel="noopener">43-yard field goal</a> as time expired.</p><p>Trailing 28-14 with 13:34 remaining in the game, Atlanta refused to stay down and clawed its way back into this NFC South matchup. The Bucs did their part to keep the Birds alive — Baker Mayfield tossed an interception near midfield with 8:28 left on the clock — but the Falcons displayed amazing tenacity on the road. They somehow survived a number of mistakes in the second half and prevailed in the kind of game that they typically lose.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">ZANE GONZALEZ FOR THE WIN! <a href="https://t.co/y3JYqrB2qc">pic.twitter.com/y3JYqrB2qc</a></p><p>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1999337569117700179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Kirk Cousins, Falcons flip the script on Thursday Night Football </b></h2><p>David Sills V dropped a deep pass that could have led to a touchdown in the third quarter, Atlanta fumbled the ball on its own 15-yard line on the next drive and the team misfired on what seemed like a must-have two-point conversion late in the fourth.  If all that adversity was not enough, the Falcons found themselves facing third-and-28 on what improbably morphed into the game-winning drive.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-joins-tight-end-history-game-buccaneers">Cousins connected with tight end Kyle Pitts</a>, who enjoyed a historic three-touchdown, 166-yard night versus the Bucs, to give the squad a highly manageable fourth down. Sills obtained sweet redemption with the game on the line, <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1999336526199861557" rel="noopener">snagging a 21-yard reception</a> along the sidelines to inch Atlanta closer to field goal range. A defensive offside penalty and six-yard catch by Darnell Mooney put the fate of both teams on Gonzalez’s leg.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">KIRK COUSINS CLUTCH FIRST DOWN 🍿</p><p> <a href="https://t.co/AldGTEQ2Jd">pic.twitter.com/AldGTEQ2Jd</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1999336526199861557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>He delivered a big blow to the Buccaneers’ playoff hopes, enabling the Carolina Panthers to potentially assume control of the division this Sunday. But Kirk Cousins is rightfully the man of the hour. The four-time Pro Bowl selection was 30-of-44 passing for 373 yards and three touchdowns, posting what could very well be the last magnificent game of his NFL career.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-raheem-morris-hits-potential-staff-changes-with-irrelevant-mic-drop">The Falcons have much to address</a> heading into the offseason after another failed campaign, but they can take some pride in this resilient prime-time performance. If nothing else, fans can at least revel in Tampa’s potential combustion. Cousins and Atlanta (5-9) will have another favorable opportunity to get in the win column when they visit the Arizona Cardinals (3-10) in Week 16.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Kirk Cousins’ heroics lead Falcons over Buccaneers in epic comeback

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-joins-tight-end-history-game-buccaneers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kyle Pitts joins only 7 other tight ends in history with monster game vs. Buccaneers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kyle-Pitts-joins-only-7-other-tight-ends-in-history-with-monster-game-vs.-Buccaneers.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kyle Pitts joins only 7 other tight ends in history with monster game vs. Buccaneers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T20:55:36-08:00">December 11th, 8:55pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T20:55:36-08:00">December 11th, 8:55pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts had himself an evening on Thursday.</p><p>The Falcons escaped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by the skin of their teeth, 29-28, at Raymond James Stadium after kicker Zane Gonzalez drilled in the game-winning field goal from 43 yards.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-boosts-free-agency-stock-touchdown-buccaneers">But it was Pitts who starred for the Falcons</a>. He finished with game-highs of 11 receptions, 166 yards, and three touchdowns in arguably his best performance since his rookie year in 2021.</p><p>The 25-year-old Pitts also <a href="https://twitter.com/tori_mcelhaney/status/1999333014665593243" rel="noopener">entered the history books</a> with his prolific performance.</p><p>“Along with being the only tight end in the NFL with 150+ receiving yards and multiple touchdowns in a game this season, Kyle Pitts is only the eighth tight end all-time to record 3+ receiving TDs and 150+ receiving yards in a game,” reported Fox 5 Sports’ Tori McElhaney on X.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Along with being the only tight end in the NFL with 150+ receiving yards and multiple touchdowns in a game this season, Kyle Pitts is only the 8th tight end ALL-TIME to record 3+ receiving TDs and 150+ receiving yards in a game.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ProBowlVote?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ProBowlVote</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hj8C430Ent">pic.twitter.com/Hj8C430Ent</a></p><p>— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) <a href="https://twitter.com/tori_mcelhaney/status/1999333014665593243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>For sure, the valiant showing will only boost Pitts’ stock when he tests the waters in free agency in the offseason. He will be a valuable target for many teams looking to shore up their offensive unit, but the price tag won’t be cheap.</p><p>While his numbers have plummeted over the last few years, Pitts has made a resurgence this season, reminding other squads that he’s still an impactful player as he aims to earn a lucrative salary.</p><p>Pitts, who played through a knee injury, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-completes-hat-trick-tds-save-fantasy-football-seasons-everywhere">got the Falcons going against the Buccaneers</a>, scoring back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter. He then came up big with only 3:13 left in the game, scoring on a seven-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to cut Tampa Bay’s lead to two, 28-26.</p><p>The Falcons ended their two-game skid and improved to 5-9.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Kyle Pitts joins only 7 other tight ends in history with monster game vs. Buccaneers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-completes-hat-trick-tds-save-fantasy-football-seasons-everywhere');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kyle Pitts completes hat-trick of TDs to save Fantasy Football seasons everywhere');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Falcons-tight-end-Kyle-Pitts-Sr.-8-is-tackled-by-Buccaneers-safeties-Antoine-Winfield-Jr.-31-and-Christian-Izien-29.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kyle Pitts completes hat-trick of TDs to save Fantasy Football seasons everywhere</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T20:32:13-08:00">December 11th, 8:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T20:44:59-08:00">December 11th, 8:44pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons are not making the NFL playoffs.</p><p>Regardless of how things turned out Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-playing-through-knee-injury-tnf-buccaneers">Kyle Pitts and the Falcons will not be part of the postseason fray</a>. However, Pitts played the game like everything was on the line.</p><p>The former Florida Gators star tight end did not just score one or two touchdowns in the contest. He found the end zone three times to complete to make the night memorable — at least for him and every fantasy football manager who started him in their playoff matchups.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">KYLE PITTS REELS IN HIS 3RD TD OF THE NIGHT 🍿🤯</p><p> <a href="https://t.co/yiwg6tELZb">pic.twitter.com/yiwg6tELZb</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1999332284307243215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>When it was all said and done on the field, the Falcons pulled off a 29-28 come-from-behind stunner against the Buccaneers, knocking Tampa Bay out of the top spot in the NFC South division. And that victory would not have been possible without the incredible performance of Pitts, who ended the contest with 166 receiving yards on 11 receptions and 12 targets.</p><p>Pitts scored his first touchdown of the night in the first quarter off an eight-yard pass from Kirk Cousins, who has taken over the QB1 role for the Falcons amid Michael Penix Jr.’s injury.</p><p>Pitts then got to the end zone again on a 17-yard touchdown score in the second period. His last touchdown of the evening came with under four minutes left in regulation, which put Atlanta within just two points. His last touchdown kept the Falcons within striking distance of the Buccaneers, and Atlanta later capitalized on it when kicker Zane Gonzales drained the game-winning, walk-off field goal from 43 yards away.</p><p>Pitts will hope that teams will remember what he did on this night to the Buccaneers’ defense when it’s time for him to find a new contract<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-boosts-free-agency-stock-touchdown-buccaneers"> in the offseason as a free agent</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Kyle Pitts completes hat-trick of TDs to save Fantasy Football seasons everywhere

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-fans-dunk-david-sills-v-drops-wide-open-td-buccaneers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ fans dunk on David Sills V after he drops wide open TD vs. Buccaneers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Falcons-wide-receiver-David-Sills-V-87-shown-on-the-field.jpg"><figcaption>Dale Zanine-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ fans dunk on David Sills V after he drops wide open TD vs. Buccaneers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T20:19:21-08:00">December 11th, 8:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T20:19:21-08:00">December 11th, 8:19pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills probably wishes he had a mulligan to use following an embarrassing fail during the third quarter of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-mike-evans-announces-return-first-catch-since-injury">Thursday night’s showdown between his team and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.</p><p>On a 1st-and-10 with 5:26 to go in the third quarter, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins loaded up for a pass, and perhaps thought he had a touchdown in the bag, when he saw Sills downfield for what appeared to be an open look for an easy score.</p><p>Sills, however, failed to secure the ball despite facing no resistance from Tampa Bay’s defense. Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield tried to track down Sills, who ended up doing the work for Tampa Bay’s defense by botching the play. Several plays later, the Falcons were forced to punt the ball.</p><p>Sills has also taken heat and ridicule from frustrated Atlanta and football fans online.</p><p>“DAVID SILLS WHAT ARE YOU DOING? The was our +550 shot at greatness,” a fan <a href="https://x.com/zachreger18/status/1999319946950771081" rel="noopener">shared</a> on social media.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">David Sills trying to catch a perfect pass <a href="https://t.co/T5zT32x0aw">pic.twitter.com/T5zT32x0aw</a></p><p>— NFL Memes (@NFLHateMemes) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLHateMemes/status/1999319891397214475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>From another <a href="https://x.com/atlhawkstime1/status/1999319716066631775" rel="noopener">disappointed</a> social media user on X, formerly Twitter: “David Sills genuinely might be the worst player in the NFL. He’s not even a practice squad level player.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reminder that David Sills is 29 years old</p><p>Find me another player in the NFL with zero upside and zero floor <a href="https://t.co/z46knulo0E">pic.twitter.com/z46knulo0E</a></p><p>— Rise Up Bijan (@RiseUpReader) <a href="https://twitter.com/RiseUpReader/status/1999323790413824070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I’d recommend David Sills stays away from Carolina,” a user who appears to be a Carolina Panthers fan <a href="https://x.com/elitetakes_/status/1999320271896084650" rel="noopener">said</a>.</p><p>Maybe the Falcons <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-boosts-free-agency-stock-touchdown-buccaneers">should have just gone with tight end Kyle Pitts</a> in that play.</p><p>The Falcons are already out of contention for a spot in the NFL playoffs, and blunders like the one Sills made can help explain why Atlanta only had four wins entering Week 15’s matchup against Baker Mayfield and the Bucs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ fans dunk on David Sills V after he drops wide open TD vs. Buccaneers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-johnny-manziel-hypes-mike-evans-return-2-word-post');   ga('set', 'title', 'Johnny Manziel hypes up Mike Evans’ epic return with 2-word post');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Former-Texas-AM-quarterback-Johnny-Manziel-.jpg"><figcaption>© Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure><h1>Johnny Manziel hypes up Mike Evans’ epic return with 2-word post</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T19:43:42-08:00">December 11th, 7:43pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T19:55:47-08:00">December 11th, 7:55pm</time><address><a>Allan Binoy</a>Allan Binoy is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NCAA Football, and NBA for ClutchPoints. With a deep passion for storytelling and analysis, he brings fans closer to the action by breaking down the biggest moments and storylines across the world of sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Johnny Manziel fired off a two-word social post after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-mike-evans-announces-return-first-catch-since-injury">Mike Evans’ electric return</a> to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night. Evans ripped a contested 45-yard reception in the third quarter, hauling in a Baker Mayfield heave near the 15-yard line while a Falcons defender clung to his hip. The play flipped field position and injected life into a Bucs offense that had been searching for a spark.  </p><p>Manziel, the former Heisman Trophy winner and Texas A&amp;M quarterback, <a href="https://x.com/JManziel2/status/1999317196938576135?s=20" rel="noopener">wasted no time</a> celebrating. He wrote on X, “My Goat @MikeEvans13_,” a short, pointed endorsement.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">My Goat <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeEvans13_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikeEvans13_</a> <a href="https://t.co/uWni6hHLKf">https://t.co/uWni6hHLKf</a></p><p>— Johnny Manziel (@JManziel2) <a href="https://twitter.com/JManziel2/status/1999317196938576135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-mike-evans-final-injury-update-thursday-matchup-falcons">Mayfield targeted Evans sparingly</a> as the Buccaneers managed a methodical attack, but the veteran’s long catch had the crowd on its feet. The Tampa Bay wide receiver <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-mike-evans-miss-most-2025-nfl-season-mnf-injury">missed most of the season through injury</a>, and fans love seeing him back on the field doing what he does best.</p><p>The catch also sparked chatter about Evans’ role moving forward. Tampa Bay coaches eased him back into the lineup after a layoff, and a play like that justifies the cautious plan. Reintroduce, limit snaps, then lean on him when the game hinges on contested throws. Opposing secondaries must now account for his size and timing.  </p><p>For fans, Manziel’s post provided instant social proof. It wasn’t an analytical take or a highlight clip, just two words that positioned Evans among the greats in a moment fans will replay. For a Buccaneers team still fighting late-season games, a shot of confidence like this might be the kind of small, human moment that carries into December.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Johnny Manziel hypes up Mike Evans’ epic return with 2-word post

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-boosts-free-agency-stock-touchdown-buccaneers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kyle Pitts boosts free agency stock with huge TD vs. Buccaneers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kyle-Pitts-Sr.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kyle Pitts boosts free agency stock with huge TD vs. Buccaneers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T19:06:46-08:00">December 11th, 7:06pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T20:51:14-08:00">December 11th, 8:51pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons looked to end their two-game skid as they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-vita-vea-shows-up-offense-help-tb-score-falcons">visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday.</p><p>The Falcons must be feeling a sense of urgency these days as they’re scrambling to close out the season on a positive note.</p><p>As for Kyle Pitts, he’s probably already thinking of his free agency. He helped his stock by scoring an <a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1999299329119719784" rel="noopener">eight-yard touchdown</a> in the second quarter to get the Falcons on the board against the Buccaneers.</p><p>“Kyle Pitts will be a free agent after this season, and I think his market will be fascinating,” wrote NFL reporter Ari Meirov. “He’s been having a good season.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kyle Pitts will be a free agent after this season and I think his market will be fascinating. </p><p>He's been having a good season.<a href="https://t.co/G8VlXwoKIy">pic.twitter.com/G8VlXwoKIy</a></p><p>— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1999299329119719784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Pitts was initally listed as questionable for the game due to a knee injury.</p><p>After impressing in his rookie stint in 2021, recording 68 receptions and over 1,000 yards, Pitts has seen his numbers drop over the past few years. But this season, he is on pace to register his most productive campaign since his rookie run.</p><p>It’s not a coincidence. He’s expected to garner a lot of interest in his free agency. He will be a good addition to any team with his athleticism and quickness. Also, don’t forget that he’s only 25 years old.</p><p>Pitts, the highest-drafted tight end in league history at No. 4 overall, is looking for a big payday, and the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-fans-fuming-drake-london-short-out-bounds-touchdown">Falcons might not be willing</a> to give him that, especially since a rebuild seems to be more viable.</p><p>As of writing, the Falcons are ahead of the Buccaneers, 14-13, in the third quarter.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Kyle Pitts boosts free agency stock with huge TD vs. Buccaneers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-mike-evans-announces-return-first-catch-since-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Buccaneers WR Mike Evans announces return with first catch since injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mike-Evans-announces-return-with-first-catch-since-injury.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Buccaneers WR Mike Evans announces return with first catch since injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T18:31:59-08:00">December 11th, 6:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T18:31:59-08:00">December 11th, 6:31pm</time><address><a>Allan Binoy</a>Allan Binoy is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NCAA Football, and NBA for ClutchPoints. With a deep passion for storytelling and analysis, he brings fans closer to the action by breaking down the biggest moments and storylines across the world of sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Mike Evans made his much-anticipated <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-mike-evans-final-injury-update-thursday-matchup-falcons">return for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> on Thursday night, hauling in his first catch since suffering a collarbone injury in Week 7, a 12-yard gain that got the crowd to its feet.  </p><p>Evans lined up on a short-to-intermediate route, and quarterback Baker Mayfield hit him in stride for the first down, a tidy little moment that felt bigger than its box-score value. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-mike-evans-officially-activated-ir-ahead-falcons-clash">The play capped a careful reintroduction</a>. Coaches kept his snaps limited and dialed up clearer looks to get him back in rhythm without risking a setback. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mike Evans first catch since injury.</p><p>Baker Mayfield finds his boy, Mike Evans for the first down catch, welcome back 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/Blsi3pd2Rp">pic.twitter.com/Blsi3pd2Rp</a></p><p>— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) <a href="https://twitter.com/SMHighlights1/status/1999293706554474553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-tampa-bay-could-get-mike-evans-tristan-wirfs-back-for-falcons-game">Tampa Bay needed the lift.</a> The Buccaneers have battled injuries across their receiving corps this season, and getting Evans, a proven chain mover and red-zone threat, back, even on a pitch count, changes how defenses must approach them. Opponents can’t simply tilt coverage to Chris Godwin or crowd the middle with safeties; Evans commands attention every time he runs a route.  </p><p>Mayfield started with modest numbers but looked more comfortable targeting his veterans once Evans checked in. The connection was short, efficient, and exactly the kind of possession play the Bucs need in close games. If Evans stays healthy and climbs past limited snaps, Tampa Bay’s passing attack suddenly looks less one-dimensional. Especially with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-emeka-egbuka-vote-of-confidence-amid-rookie-season-slump">Emeka Egbuka suffering a mid season slump</a> in productivity, any contribution Evans can make will be more than welcome for the Bucs.</p><p>This wasn’t a comeback celebration so much as a pragmatic step forward. For a Buccaneers team still fighting for seeding in the NFC South, that’s the kind of small win that can add up.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans announces return with first catch since injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/atlanta-falcons-lose-key-db-to-ankle-injury-during-buccaneers-game');   ga('set', 'title', 'Atlanta Falcons lose key DB to ankle injury during Buccaneers game');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Atlanta-loses-key-DB-to-ankle-injury-during-Buccaneers-game.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Atlanta Falcons lose key DB to ankle injury during Buccaneers game</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T18:05:45-08:00">December 11th, 6:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T18:19:30-08:00">December 11th, 6:19pm</time><address><a>Allan Binoy</a>Allan Binoy is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NCAA Football, and NBA for ClutchPoints. With a deep passion for storytelling and analysis, he brings fans closer to the action by breaking down the biggest moments and storylines across the world of sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons lost starting cornerback Mike Hughes to an ankle injury Thursday night during their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/falcons-vs-buccaneers-bold-predictions-for-week-15-thursday-night-football-clash">game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>, forcing him to the locker room and leaving him questionable to return, reports said.  </p><p>Hughes limped off after a tackle late in the first half and did not immediately rejoin the sideline, a gut-punch to a secondary that has leaned on him for stability this season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-aj-terrell-join-drake-london-injury-report-before-buccaneers-game">The loss tightened an already-thin</a> defensive-back rotation and handed more snaps to younger options behind A.J. Terrell.  </p><p>The Buccaneers carried a 7-0 lead when the injury occurred, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-james-pearce-jr-accomplishes-feat-micah-parsons">Atlanta’s defensive plan</a> suffered an obvious blow; the Falcons had prepared for a matchup that required press coverage and contested throws downfield. Coach Raheem Morris said the team would evaluate Hughes in the medical tent before offering a full update.</p><p>The Falcons already have struggled to find consistent answers at corner outside A.J. Terrell, and losing Hughes could push Clark Phillips III or a slot defender into a larger role, depending on the scheme. Opponents will test whoever fills in, which could force Atlanta into more single-high safety looks or extra help over the top.  </p><p>Through the 2025 season, Hughes has logged 22 solo tackles and five passes defensed, numbers that underline his value to Atlanta’s defense. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-raheem-morris-message-atlanta-fans-hot-seat-noise">With the playoffs out of reach</a>, the Falcons will treat the rest of the season as a development window, and losing Hughes would accelerate younger players’ development.  </p><p>The Falcons’ medical staff will provide more details after the game; for now, the team lists Hughes as questionable to return.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Atlanta Falcons lose key DB to ankle injury during Buccaneers game

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-playing-through-knee-injury-tnf-buccaneers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons’ Kyle Pitts playing through knee injury on TNF vs. Buccaneers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kyle-Pitts.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons’ Kyle Pitts playing through knee injury on TNF vs. Buccaneers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-11T16:01:24-08:00">December 11th, 4:01pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-11T16:19:40-08:00">December 11th, 4:19pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons will have tight end Kyle Pitts on the field on Thursday night, when they go up <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/falcons-vs-buccaneers-bold-predictions-for-week-15-thursday-night-football-clash">against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> for a Week 15 showdown at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.</p><p>Pitts was previously labeled questionable for the Buccaneers game, but he’s <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1999264654800101379" rel="noopener">now been tagged active</a>, as noted by Adam Schefter of ESPN via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>The status of the former Florida Gators star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-aj-terrell-join-drake-london-injury-report-before-buccaneers-game">for Week 15’s Falcons outing</a> was put into question earlier in the week when he posted limited participation during practices on Monday and Tuesday following a decent performance in Week 14’s gamea against the Seattle Seahawks at home. Pitts led the Falcons with 90 receiving yards on six receptions and 10 targets, albeit in a 37-9 loss to the Seahawks.</p><p>The Falcons are already out of contention for a spot in the NFL playoffs, but they have a chance to avenge their Week 1 23-20 loss to Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers.</p><p>Plus, Atlanta can hurt Tampa Bay’s odds to win the NFC South and make the playoffs with a win in this Week 15 matchup. In the first meeting with the Bucs, Pitts finsihed second on the team with 59 receiving yards on seven catches and eight targets.</p><p>This time around, however, Pitts will be getting looks from veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins instead of Michael Penix Jr., who has been placed on the injured reserve due to a knee injury that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-raheem-morris-fired-up-michael-penix-jr-surgery">required surgery</a>.</p><p>With Pitts expected to become a free agent after the 2025 season, he can also boost stock in the market with a strong closeout to the 2025 campaign. He enters Week 15 with 631 receiving yards and just a touchdown on 62 receptions and 85 targets through 13 games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons’ Kyle Pitts playing through knee injury on TNF vs. Buccaneers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-drake-london-ruled-out-buccaneers-tnf-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons rule out Drake London for TNF clash with Buccaneers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/London-vs-the-Bucs.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons rule out Drake London for TNF clash with Buccaneers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-10T11:15:08-08:00">December 10th, 11:15am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-10T11:41:16-08:00">December 10th, 11:41am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The 2025 season has been a nightmare for the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta is 4-9 and on a two-game losing streak heading into <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/falcons-vs-buccaneers-bold-predictions-for-week-15-thursday-night-football-clash">Thursday Night Football against Tampa Bay</a>. Unfortunately, the Falcons will be without their top wide receiver yet again because of a knee injury.</p><p>The Falcons <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1998824861557469341" rel="noopener">have ruled out</a> wide receiver Drake London for Thursday’s game against the Buccaneers, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.</p><p>This will be London’s fourth consecutive absence with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-drake-london-pcl-sprain-injury-woes-michael-penix-jr">PCL injury that he picked up in Week 11</a> against the Panthers.</p><p>Atlanta is on a short week, which did not give London much time to get back into practice. Though <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-drake-london-injury-update-ahead-thursday-night-football">London was a non-participant at practice</a> throughout the entire week.</p><p>The fourth-year wide receiver has only played in nine games this season, but he was on pace for a career year. He has 60 receptions for 810 yards and six touchdowns in those games.</p><p>Atlanta’s offense won’t be the same without London on the perimeter. His absence will put more pressure on Bijan Robinson and the running game, as well as Atlanta’s other pass catchers.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/all-the-reasons-falcons-disaster-vs-seahawks-must-be-nail-in-raheem-morris-coffin">Falcons have already been eliminated from playoff contention</a> after their brutal loss against the Seahawks. There is little reason to rush London back before he is ready, especially with QB <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-michael-penix-jrs-latest-acl-injury-requires-season-ending-surgery">Michael Penix Jr. already done for the season</a> with an injury of his own.</p><p>It will be interesting to see how much of a fight Kirk Cousins and the remaining Falcons players put up in Week 15.</p><p>In other Falcons injury news, Kyle Pitts (knee), Jalon Walker (quad), Brandon Dorlus (groin), and David Onyemata (foot) <a href="https://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/injury-report/" rel="noopener">are all listed as questionable</a> for TNF.</p><p>Falcons at Buccaneers kicks off at 8:15PM ET on Thursday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons rule out Drake London for TNF clash with Buccaneers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-special-teams-coordinator-denies-hes-coaching-for-job');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons special teams coordinator denies he’s coaching for his job');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Williams-coaches.jpg"><figcaption>Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Falcons special teams coordinator denies he’s coaching for his job</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T15:02:07-08:00">December 9th, 3:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T15:02:07-08:00">December 9th, 3:02pm</time><address><a>Jackson Stone</a>Jackson Stone is a Mercer University alum from Atlanta who graduated with a BA in communications. A lifelong sports lover, Jackson is a die-hard fan of all Atlanta teams. He joined ClutchPoints in 2023.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-raheem-morris-hits-potential-staff-changes-with-irrelevant-mic-drop">Atlanta Falcons recently dropped</a> to 4-9 on the 2025 NFL season with a blowout home <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/all-the-reasons-falcons-disaster-vs-seahawks-must-be-nail-in-raheem-morris-coffin">loss to the Seattle Seahawks</a>. With that result, the Falcons were officially eliminated from playoff contention this year, despite the NFC South being far and away the worst division in the entire NFL.</p><p>On Sunday, not much of anything went right for Atlanta, but special teams in particular were a disaster, as the Falcons had a field goal blocked and also a kickoff returned for a touchdown.</p><p>This has led some to call for the job of Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams, but on Tuesday, Williams himself <a href="https://x.com/TerrinWaack/status/1998485173071978918" rel="noopener">seemed confident that</a> that would not come to pass.</p><p>“I won’t necessarily say I’m fighting for my job because that’s the wrong perspective. I’m looking to try to thrive at my job,” said Williams, per Terrin Waack of the Falcons on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>Williams also spoke on how the team switches things up on special teams on a weekly basis.</p><p>“Every week, we change on special teams. … We’re always making changes. We’re always looking to put guys in the best positions to go out there and use their attributes to help the team win,” he said.</p><p>Overall, the Falcons’ 2025 season has been an unmitigated disaster, with the team starting out 3-2  before going on an ugly five-game losing streak, and then losing two out of the next three after that.</p><p>Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has gone down with a torn ACL, and Atlanta fans have been clamoring for the job of head coach Raheem Morris for several weeks now.</p><p>Making matters worse for the Falcons is that they don’t own their 2026 first round pick, although the player they selected with last year’s extra pick, James Pearce Jr., has at least performed well this season.</p><p>The Falcons will inch closer to the sweet release on Thursday with a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Falcons special teams coordinator denies he’s coaching for his job

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/nfl-stories/falcons-vs-buccaneers-bold-predictions-for-week-15-thursday-night-football-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Falcons vs. Buccaneers bold predictions for Week 15 Thursday Night Football clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/alcons-vs.-Buccaneers-bold-predictions-for-Week-15-Thursday-Night-Football-clash.jpg"></figure><h1>Falcons vs. Buccaneers bold predictions for Week 15 Thursday Night Football clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T12:00:45-08:00">December 9th, 12:00pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-10T05:31:28-08:00">December 10th, 5:31am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Atlanta Falcons</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are two teams headed in opposite directions. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/clutchpoints-nfl-power-rankings-week-15-lions-bills-win-buccaneers-upset">Tampa Bay is 7-6 headed into Week 15</a> and in a tight race with Carolina for the NFC South title. Meanwhile, the Falcons are floundering at 4-9 <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-michael-penix-jrs-latest-acl-injury-requires-season-ending-surgery">after Michael Penix Jr.’s season-ending injury</a>. The Falcons do not have their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft either, which makes their long-term prospects look not so good.</p><p>This game has plenty of ingredients that could result in a blowout. Not only is Tampa a better overall team, but they have plenty to fight for ahead of the playoffs. By comparison, the Falcons are only playing for pride as they will not make the postseason. Their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-atlantas-self-destruction-bad-news-raheem-morris-future">head coach is rumored to be on the hot seat</a> too, which does not help from a motivation angle.</p><p>Plus, the Buccaneers are getting healthy at the right time. Head coach Todd Bowles announced on Monday that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/tampa-bay-buccaneers/buccaneers-news-tampa-bay-could-get-mike-evans-tristan-wirfs-back-for-falcons-game">Mike Evans, Tristan Wirfs, and Jalen McMillan are all “in play”</a> for Thursday’s game against the Falcons. That could give Tampa’s offense an extra jolt just in time for this important divisional matchup.</p><p>So which team will come out on top in this one? And which players are set up to play well on Thursday Night Football?</p><p>Below we will explore three bold predictions from Falcons vs. Buccaneers ahead of the Thursday night battle in Week 15.</p><p><i><b>*Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/football/?irad=356362&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored">(free trial)</a>*</b></i></p><h2><b>Baker Mayfield doubles up Kirk Cousins in passing yards, touchdowns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Tampa-Bay-Buccaneers-quarterback-Baker-Mayfield-6-looks-to-pass-the-ball-against-the-Los-Angeles-Rams-during-the-second-quarter-at-SoFi-Stadium.jpg"><figcaption>Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Mayfield has not played up to his standard throughout most of the 2025 season.</p><p>The veteran quarterback has revived his career in Tampa, throwing for over 4,000 passing yards and 28+ touchdowns over the past two seasons. But that is set to change this year.</p><p>Mayfield has only 2,722 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions with four games left to play. I was also shocked to learn that Baker has <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/3052587/baker-mayfield" rel="noopener">only thrown for over 300 passing yards <i>one time</i></a> this season.</p><p>I think that could change in Week 15.</p><p>I’m predicting that Baker Mayfield will double up Kirk Cousins in most statistical categories. So if Cousins throws 200 passing yards, Baker needs 400. The same goes with passing touchdowns too.</p><p>Cousins only has one game over 200 passing yards this season, throwing for 234 yards and a touchdown against the Jets.</p><p>This prediction feels perfectly in the zone of possibility, while also being a little reckless. So it’s perfect!</p><h2><b>Bucky Irving scores two touchdowns against Falcons defense</b></h2><p>Bucky is back and as good as ever.</p><p>The second-year running back has played well since returning from his lengthy injury absence. And he could be in for his best game of the season against the Falcons.</p><p>Atlanta’s defense is designed to hold up against the pass. They’ve <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/stats/team/_/view/defense/stat/passing/table/passing/sort/netPassingYardsPerGame/dir/asc" rel="noopener">only allowed 191.5 passing yards per game</a> this season thanks to their young pass rushers. I was surprised to learn that Atlanta is 3rd in the NFL with 43 sacks heading into Week 15.</p><p>But as is often the case, that means they aren’t as good against the run.</p><p>The Falcons have allowed an average of 131 rushing yards per game in 2025, which puts them in the bottom 10 among NFL run defense units.</p><p>I can easily see the Buccaneers making a point of establishing the run early in the game. Beyond that, Bucky could benefit from plenty of garbage time carries if this game gets out of hand.</p><p>I am predicting that Irving scores two touchdowns against the Falcons. Those could be either rushing or receiving, and I would wager there is one of each.</p><p>A big day for Bucky should mean that Tampa’s offense is operating at peak efficiency. If this happens, the Buccaneers will have a great chance to win…</p><h2><b>Buccaneers win IF they can shut down Bijan Robinson</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Robinson-scores.jpg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>…especially if they can shut down Bijan Robinson.</p><p>The Falcons have a compromised offense at this point in the season. Kirk Cousins has not played well, but it is hard to blame him for struggling in a bad situation.</p><p>Cousins also does not have much help on offense. Drake London did not play in Week 14 and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/atlanta-falcons/falcons-news-kyle-pitts-aj-terrell-join-drake-london-injury-report-before-buccaneers-game">he is still on the injury report</a> before Thursday Night Football.</p><p>But Bijan is still Bijan. And he is just about the only reliable weapon on Atlanta’s entire offense.</p><p>That means the Buccaneers will be expecting him to have a huge workload. And their defense is designed to stop a player like Robinson.</p><p>Tampa has <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/stats/team/_/view/defense/stat/rushing/table/rushing/sort/rushingYardsPerGame/dir/asc" rel="noopener">allowed an average of 100.6 rushing yards per game</a>, which makes them one of the NFL’s better units. It helps having a huge nose tackle like Vita Vea in the middle of your defense.</p><p>When looking at Atlanta’s past few games, it is clear that they need Bijan to have a good game in order to win.</p><p>I’m predicting that Tampa can win this game if they keep Robinson below 125 rushing yards and do not allow more than one running play of 20+ yards.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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