Falcons finally got the most out of Kyle Pitts in Week 6 loss to Bears

Through the first three weeks of the season, Kyle Pitts was basically a ghost within this Atlanta Falcons' offense. He mustered just two receptions for 15 yards across the first three weeks of the season, which made the three-year, $54 million extension they signed him to look like a total waste.

However, across these last three weeks, the Falcons have gotten a lot more return on investment out of the Pitts extension, and it's because they're finally involving him in the offense. Every week his route participation and target share has gone up, which came to a head against the Chicago Bears.

In the 31-23 loss to the Bears in Week 6, the former top-five pick turned in his best performance of the season and was the main reason Atlanta made a bit to come back in the first place. He caught of seven targets for a season-high 60 yards and two touchdowns--and he made some impressive plays.

Look at this one from the fourth quarter. He mossed Elijah Hicks and likely snatched an interception from him, juked out Nick McCloud and tried to hurdle another Bears defender as he rumbled his way for a 29-yard gain to set Atlanta up in the red zone before capping off the drive with a score.

Falcons OC Tommy Rees said they were looking to get Pitts more involved in the offense, and he's finally putting his money where his mouth is. The common denominator across the last few games is that they've utilized him more as a YAC threat, which makes it easier for Michael Penix Jr. to feed him.

Kyle Pitts needs to be the Atlanta Falcons' safety valve going forward

Kyle Pitts is currently the third-highest paid TE in the NFL (behind Trey McBride and George Kittle) at $18 million a year, and for the first time since the ink dried on his new deal he's playing like he's worth that money. It goes to show you what he is capable of when he's targeted on a consistent basis.

Drake London and Bijan Robinson are understandably the centerpieces of this Atlanta offense, but because of them, the Dirty Birds will sometimes ignore the 26-year-old despite his talent and price tag. But after a performance like this, it's going to make it real hard to look past him going forward.

Here's the issue: It shouldn't take until the fourth quarter of a 24-point game for Pitts to get this sort of usage. In the first three quarters, he had just one reception for six yards. Most of his usage came against the Bears backups in supposed garbage time, so he needs to do more in competitive games.

This is supposed to be an offense designed to get the most out of the tight ends, and going forward, they need to scheme up more touches for him in order to find more ways to get him going. Especially when Penix is pressured, he should be an easy safety valve compared to always looking to London.

A tight end who is 6-foot-6 with 4.4 speed is typically the most dangerous weapon you can find on the football field. He's too big to be covered by a corner and too quick for a linebacker or safety, so there should be not be any difficulties on using him as an intermediate-game threat over the middle.

And the thing is that the former Mackey Award winner is always open. Since London has become a decoy in the red zone and defenses are stacking the box when Bijan is in the game, it should make it easy to find Pitts. After all, he's one massive target, and the gameplan should capitalize on that more.

It's safe to say all of those trips to the course are paying off, because Kyle Pitts is finally turning a corner this season--but the Falcons need this level of play to be sustained.

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