After a slow start to the season, the Atlanta Falcons are putting forth the effort to involve Kyle Pitts more in the offense, and it's paying off. Pitts has found the end zone four times across his last three games and finally seems to be worth the three-year, $54 million extension he landed this summer.
The former top-five pick is starting to be schemed up touches as the Falcons have finally started to utilize his YAC abilities to offer Michael Penix Jr. an entirely new security blanket, so defenses have to start paying him the same attention to stopping him as they would Drake London or Bijan Robinson.
Throughout his career, Pitts has been known for torching one particular opponent: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it just so happens that's the team Atlanta has on the schedule on Sunday. For as much inconsistency as he's dealt with across the first 5+ seasons of his NFL career, the one constant has been that he always delivers against the Bucs. He's basically their kryptonite.
In his last matchup against the Bucs, we all remember what KP did. No. 8 caught 11 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-29 victory on Thursday Night Football with a legacy performance that helped countless lucky individuals advance in the opening round of the fantasy football playoffs. Even in his matchup in Tampa in 2024, he caught four passes for 91 yards and two scores.
And it appears that the Falcons are going to have to rely on their star tight end once again if they want to beat Tampa Bay.
Unlocking Kyle Pitts is the key to victory for the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8
The Bucs' defense has shut down opposing WR1s and they boast the NFL's second-best run defense, which means the Dirty Birds could have trouble getting both Drake London and Bijan Robinson going in Week 8--which is something that the numbers back up.
How opposing WR1s have fared against Tampa Bay:
- Ja'Marr Chase: 2 catches for 12 yards
- CeeDee Lamb: 2 catches for 19 yards
- Tetairoa McMillan: 4 catches for 40 yards
- Justin Jefferson: 2 catches for 32 yards* (got injured in first quarter)
- Christian Watson: 3 catches for 47 yards
They also have yet to allow a top RB to rush for more than 58 yards on them, which means Atlanta will likely have to get Bijan involved in the pass game. Thankfully for Pitts, the Bucs' biggest weakness is against tight ends, because they're especially weak when it comes to covering the middle of the field.
Tampa Bay's defense allow easy completions over the middle, and it's been even worse without star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. these last two weeks--and this is where Pitts should thrive. The veteran TE is always open, and if London struggles, Penix will basically be forced to look his direction more often.
In eight career games against the Buccaneers, the 26-year-old has caught 44 passes for 629 yards and six scores, which are the best numbers he's put up against any one singular team in his career. And given Alex Anzalone will likely be the linebacker matched up with the Florida product, it's safe to say this matchup will always be advantageous for No. 8
There's a reason Kyle Pitts makes Todd Bowles lose sleep, and once a year (typically in Tampa), he goes up for a big game against the Buccaneers, and while the Falcons' ability to get him involved in the red zone is great, they're going to have to rely on him a whole lot more in Week 8.
As one of my childhood friends calls him, the "Aura King", should be in for another big game against his favorite opponents on Sunday, and hopefully his efforts will be enough to help propel them to a victory and help close the gap in the NFC South.
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