“At this level you have seen every part within the season,” Bowles added. “The coaches have achieved every part they will do. It is a player-driven group within the final 4 or 5 weeks. You have to execute, they usually’ve acquired to carry one another accountable.

“That is not everyone. We’re speaking a few small, choose few, however the small, choose few is what’s getting us beat.”

The Bucs opened the scoring with a Sean Tucker landing earlier than the Falcons led 14-13 at half-time after Pitts, who got here into Thursday’s recreation with only one landing all season, claimed his first two scores.

The house group went right into a 28-14 lead early within the fourth quarter after Baker Mayfield made landing passes to Devin Culp and Chris Godwin Jr.

Veteran Kirk Cousins was making his fourth straight begin after a season-ending harm to Atlanta’s beginning quarterback Michael Penix Jr and the 37-year-old led the Falcons to the thirty second fourth-quarter comeback of his profession.

Working again Bijan Robinson acquired into the tip zone earlier than Pitts claimed his hat-trick and Atlanta regained possession with lower than two minutes left.

And regardless of being backed as much as third and 28 after recovering his personal fumble and a 10-yard penalty, Cousins made key passes to Pitts and receiver David Sills V to get the Falcons in vary for Gonzalez to kick a 43-yard recreation winner.

Cousins completed with 373 passing yards and three landing passes to Pitts, who claimed 166 yards from 11 receptions.

Atlanta are actually 5-9 and their upset of Tampa Bay did Carolina a favour because the Panthers (7-6) now prime the NFC South and face the Bucs in two of their final 4 video games, with solely the division winner assured a play-off spot.