Mike Evans' triumphant return from a broken collarbone meant nothing. Tampa Bay squandered a commanding 28-26 lead with under two minutes remaining Thursday night, surrendering a game-winning field goal to Atlanta as the fourth quarter descended into catastrophe.

What should have been a statement victory instead became another grim chapter in the Bucs' late-season unraveling. They now cling to playoff hopes despite controlling their own NFC South destiny—a precarious position for a team that lost to a 2-10 Saints squad five days earlier.

An Unmitigated Collapse in the End

Tampa Bay led 14 points with 10 minutes to play. The Falcons, losers of seven of their last eight games, had nothing left to play for but pride. They drove down the field three times and beat the Bucs anyway.

Kirk Cousins authored the comeback, finishing with 373 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. His fourth-quarter performance alone was devastating: 13-for-18 for 154 yards and a touchdown. Against Tampa Bay specifically, Cousins has become unstoppable—11 touchdowns and just one interception over his last three games against the Bucs. In 14 games against everyone else: 9 TDs, 14 INTs.

Running back Bijan Robinson scored a touchdown in the final 10 minutes. Tight end Kyle Pitts caught a third touchdown pass. Still, the Bucs held a 28-26 lead with 1:49 remaining. The offense punted it back to Atlanta instead of running out the clock.

What followed was a sequence that epitomized defensive meltdown. Facing third-and-28 after a penalty and sack, the Falcons escaped with a 14-yard throw to Pitts. On fourth-and-14, they converted again with a 21-yard completion to receiver David Sills. One more first down allowed them to run the clock down. Zane Gonzalez's 43-yard field goal sailed through as time expired.

In five days, the Bucs lost at home to two of the league's worst teams, surrendering their divisional lead.

Kyle Pitts Has Found His Kryptonite Opponent

Kyle Pitts lives to torment the Bucs defense.

He recorded two touchdowns in both games against Tampa Bay last season, then managed just two scores over his next 22 games before Thursday. Against the Bucs this time, he exploded: six catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone, running untouched through the Tampa secondary. He added a third touchdown in the fourth quarter, finishing with 11 catches for a career-high 166 yards and three scores.

The disparity is stark. Pitts averages 44 yards per game for his career, but has never fallen that low in eight games against Tampa Bay. He owns six touchdowns in those eight matchups. In 67 games against everyone else combined, he has eight touchdowns total.

Once dismissed as a disappointing top-five pick, Pitts has surged recently with receiver Drake London sidelined. Thursday marked his third straight game with at least 80 receiving yards. He's positioning himself as a coveted free agent next spring, whether Atlanta wants to keep him or another team swoops in.

Atlanta's Penalty Plague Nearly Sabotaged Their Comeback

The Falcons' discipline collapse nearly cost them everything. Ten flags for 70 yards in the first half kept the Bucs competitive. The third quarter devolved into farce.

Atlanta gifted Tampa Bay three consecutive first downs inside the 10-yard line: a facemask to the 6-yard line, illegal contact on a third-and-13 incompletion, and a tripping penalty that moved the ball to the 4. The Falcons spotted the Bucs eight first downs on penalties—tying the most given up by any team in any game this season.

Atlanta's 19 total penalties set a franchise record, obliterating the previous mark of 17 set in 1978 against the 49ers.

Evans' Big Return Couldn't Salvage a Losing Effort

Up 14 in the fourth quarter, the narrative seemed written: the Bucs offense restored to form with Evans finally healthy.

The star receiver delivered immediately, catching six passes for 132 yards after missing six games with a broken collarbone. Jalen McMillan, sidelined all season after fracturing three bones in his neck during the preseason, returned and caught two passes for 38 yards, including a 1-yard reception that set up Tampa Bay's first touchdown. Chris Godwin, working back from two leg injuries, scored his first touchdown of the season and converted a two-point attempt.

It all meant nothing in the end.

The Bucs stand at 7-7 but control their playoff destiny. Two of their three remaining games are against Carolina (7-6). Sweep the Panthers, and Tampa Bay wins the NFC South for a fifth consecutive season. Carolina hosts New Orleans on Sunday—a matchup New Orleans won earlier this year—before facing the Bucs in Charlotte next weekend. If the Panthers win both, they clinch the division with the victory over Tampa Bay.