Zane Gonzalez booted the game-winning field goal as time expired to lift the Atlanta Falcons to a 29-28 NFL victory over Tampa Bay on Thursday that saw the Buccaneers slip out of a tie for the NFC South divisional lead.<\/p>\n
The Falcons, already eliminated from playoff contention, clearly relished their role as potential spoilers in Tampa Bay, where Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns — all to tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.<\/p>\n
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Bijan Robinson also ran for a touchdown and Gonzalez kicked a 43-yarder to seal the victory.<\/p>\n
Trailing 28-14 with 13:34 remaining, the Falcons had touchdowns by Robinson and Pitts but missed two-point conversions on both.<\/p>\n
After the Bucs, leading 28-26, came up empty on their final drive the Falcons got the ball back and despite a sack of Cousins and a holding penalty set Gonzalez up for the game-winner.<\/p>\n
“If you’re a pro football player you’re a fighter,” Cousins said.<\/p>\n
“There’s a lot for us to play for in terms of just us men and wanting to be excellent at what we do. And I think that showed tonight.”<\/p>\n
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Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.<\/p>\n
The Bucs, who had raced to a 6-2 record and threatened to run away with the division, have now lost five of their last six games — including a loss to division stragglers New Orleans last week.<\/p>\n
The Carolina Panthers can tighten their grip on the NFC South when they visit the Saints on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Buccaneers and Panthers will then meet twice over the final three weeks of the regular season.<\/p>\n
“This one’s going to haunt me,” said Mayfield, who was particularly stung by a fourth-quarter interception. “This falls on my shoulders.<\/p>\n
“You can’t turn the ball over, can’t have that interception… we have to be better on offense, and it comes down to how I play.”<\/p>\n
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