Despite a big comeback from injury by Mike Evans, the Buccaneers gave up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter Thursday night to the upset Falcons. The loss marks their second straight loss and fifth in their last six as they fall to .500 for the first time all season.
For now, they are currently behind the Panthers (7-6) in the NFC South, although the two remaining back-to-back games between Carolina and Tampa Bay will ultimately decide the division.
The Falcons were already eliminated from the playoffs, but you wouldn’t know it by the way they fought. Atlanta’s defense tightened up just enough late to allow a comeback, tight ends Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson combined for over 300 yards and four touchdowns, and Zane Gonzalez capped the comeback with a 43-yard field goal.