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Buccaneers vs. Falcons live updates: Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins face off on 'Thursday Night Football'

The Buccaneers are desperately clinging onto the NFC South lead. The Falcons are all but eliminated from the playoff picture. But through two quarters, it's Atlanta that leads Tampa Bay 14-13, with Kyle Pitts absolutely dominating. 

After the teams exchanged punts to start, the Buccaneers showed what they can be when healthy on their second drive of the night. Baker Mayfield hit Mike Evans for 12 yards, Emeka Egbuka for 23 yards (on third and 15) and Jalen McMillan for 19 yards. Sean Tucker plowed in from 1 yard away to open the scoring.

It was Evans' first catch since Week 3. He suffered a hamstring injury, returned in Week 7 and then broke his collarbone. It was also McMillan's first catch of the entire season. After a strong rookie campaign, McMillan suffered a severe neck strain in the preseason that left him in a brace for several months. With Evans, Egbuka, McMillan and Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay finally has all of its top four wide receivers together.

The Falcons responded with a touchdown drive of their own, with Pitts capping it from 8 yards out. Pitts is already up to 111 yards on six catches. It's already a season high for yards in a game.

After a Tampa Bay field goal, the Falcons took their first lead of the night with yet another strong response. Cousins threw a couple of beauties to Pitts, first for 35 yards and then 17 more for a touchdown.

Mayfield led a quick field goal drive just before the half.

The Falcons are winning the battle in the trenches, averaging 6.1 yards per carry and getting good pressure on Mayfield, but penalties have been a big story. Atlanta has 10 penalties for 70 yards. Tampa Bay also committed a bad one, with Zyon McCollum jumping offside on a field goal attempt, giving the visitors a first down that Cousins turned into his first touchdown pass to Pitts.

We'll keep you up-to-date on the second half below!

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Touchdown Falcons: Kyle Pitts with the trifecta, but the two-point conversion fails

A truly unbelievable night from Kyle Pitts continues with this bobbling touchdown catch, but the Falcons once again fail on the two-point conversion, and it's 28-26, Tampa Bay.

Still, what a marvelous catch from Pitts. He, Bijan Robinson and Drake London (who is out tonight) can be legitimate building blocks for this offense, no matter what this offseason holds.

 
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Oh my goodness, how did Bijan Robinson recover this?

Darnell Mooney fumbled, and there were five Buccaneers around the ball. But it was Bijan Robinson who came away with it. Outstanding effort from an outstanding player. He might have saved the game for Atlanta.

 
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Dee Alford makes a huge interception

What a great play from Dee Alford, who baited Baker Mayfield, sunk down to Mike Evans and made the athletic grab.

Mayfield now has five interceptions in his last five games, and Atlanta has renewed life.

 
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Touchdown Falcons: Bijan Robinson to the end zone

My goodness, what a player Bijan Robinson is. And what a good job the Falcons keep doing responding. Each of Atlanta's three touchdowns have come immediately after a Tampa Bay score.

 
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Touchdown Buccaneers: Chris Godwin cashes in

Really great play design here.

He then added on the two-point conversion, and Tampa Bay is up 14.

 
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Christian Izien makes a huge play, forces Bijan Robinson fumble

What a massive play for Tampa Bay. Bijan Robinson caught a quick pass, but Christian Izien laid a perfect hit right on the ball, and Jacob Parrish recovered.

The Buccaneers have a +10 turnover margin this season, tied for third-best in the NFL.

 
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Zyon McCollum (hip) is out for the game

A big blow for Tampa Bay. His replacement, Jacob Parrish, is having a tough night.

 
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David Sills V with a big drop

Sills got behind Jamel Dean and might have had a touchdown, but he had it go right through his hands.

 
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Touchdown Buccaneers: Devin Culp scores after more Falcons penalties

The Falcons keep giving the Buccaneers opportunities, and Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay keep taking advantage. This time, Dee Alford committed illegal contact on a third-and-goal from the 13, Divine Deablo got a tripping penalty on the next play, and then Mayfield found Devin Culp for the score.

A third-string running back scored Tampa Bay's first touchdown. Now a third-string tight end has its second.

 
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MIKE EVANS!

A 45-yard catch in his first game since Week 7. Just goes up and over Cobee Bryant and shows tremendous concentration and hand-eye coordination to catch the bobble.

This was very well-defended by Bryant. It didn't matter.

 
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Touchdown Falcons: Kyle Pitts is destroying the Buccaneers

So this is what the Falcons were envisioning when they drafted Kyle Pitts fourth overall. He has six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns already!

Pitts had a 36-yard catch on the play prior, too. He's too fast for safeties, too big for cornerbacks. The hosts have no answers.

 
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Mike Evans ... ouch

Mike Evans tried to go up high on a Baker Mayfield throw, but Cobee Bryant came through and crumpled him to the ground. Evans is in some pain on the sideline.

 
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Another bad penalty by the Falcons

Bijan Robinson broke off a big run, but it's coming back thanks to a hold by Dylan Drummond, one that was completely unnecessary.

The Falcons are already up to eight penalties.

 
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A.J. Terrell is up to three penalties tonight ...

... and they've been costly. A third-down defensive holding gave Tampa Bay a first down. Another penalty was declined because Emeka Egbuka caught a 23-yard pass anyway. This latest penalty negated a sack that would have resulted in a third down.

 
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Touchdown Falcons: Kyle Pitts scores after crucial Buccaneers penalty

The Falcons appeared to have to settle for a short field goal, but Zyon McCollum was offside on the attempt, giving Atlanta a first down. Kirk Cousins took immediate advantage, finding Kyle Pitts for an 8-yard score.

Good work from Cousins here standing tall and getting through his progressions.

Both scoring drives have been extended due to penalty A.J. Terrell's third-down penalty extended the Buccaneers drive that resulted in a touchdown. Now, the Falcons are getting some penalty luck of their own. Overall, there have been seven accepted penalties between the two teams.

 
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Mike Hughes headed to x-ray room

He's struggling with a right ankle injury.

 
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Touchdown Buccaneers: Sean Tucker plunges in

Two-headed monster? How about three? With Bucky Irving and Rachaad White already making their mark, it's Sean Tucker who finishes off the Buccaneers' second offensive drive with a touchdown.

The play came two snaps after Jalen McMillan caught a 19-yard pass down to the 1-yard line. It was McMillan's first catch of the year; he suffered a severe neck strain in the preseason and was in a brace for several months. Though his return isn't as hyped as Evans', he could play a big role as a slot or outside target.

 
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Mike Evans is back!

A 12-yard gain and a first down on his first catch since Week 3

 
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Mike Hughes banged up

Mike Hughes is headed to the sideline after a long Rachaad White run, walking a bit gingerly.

 
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Two drives, two punts

Both teams reached roughly midfield before stalling out. There's been a heavy run emphasis for Atlanta -- not a surprise given they have Bijan Robinson and are down Michael Penix and Drake London -- while Bucky Irving was responsible for all of the Buccaneers' yards on the first drive.

 
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Jamel Dean heads to the sideline

Jamel Dean made a hard hit on Kyle Pitts, and appeared to be favoring his shoulder.

 
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We are underway from Tampa!

The Buccaneers start with the ball, and Bucky Irving rips off a nice chunk gain for a first down.

 
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The Creamsicles are back! We like these

 
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Can Baker Mayfield get back to his early-season form?

Baker Mayfield came out of the gates like an MVP candidate, but he has struggled since. With Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan back in the fold, can he turn things around over the final month of the season?

Baker Mayfield this season

Weeks 1-6

Weeks 7-14

W-L

5-1

2-5

TD-Int

12-1

8-5

Yards per attempt

7.9

5.3

Rush YPG

26.3

18.1

Remember, Mayfield did injure his shoulder in Week 7 against the Lions; he did not have a single rush attempt in that game or the next two. But he has been running more of late.

 
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Buccaneers inactives: Cade Otton out

Baker Mayfield will have all of his wide receivers for the first time this year, but he will be down his tight end: Cade Otton, who was doubtful due to a knee injury, is indeed out. Same for Tykee Smith (neck/shoulder).

 
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Falcons inactives: Drake London remains out, but good news elsewhere

Drake London, who has not played since Week 11 due to a knee injury, remains out for Atlanta, as was previously announced.

But the Falcons did get good news: All of their players listed as questionable (Kyle Pitts, Jalon Walker, Brandon Dorlus and David Onyemata) are active.

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