On Thursday, the Atlanta Falcons picked up just their second win in their last nine games as they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29-28 to improve to 5-9. And while the Falcons are officially eliminated from postseason play, Thursday’s win featured a career night for Kyle Pitts as he finished with 11 catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
“The best thing that’s happened to Kyle Pitts, honestly guys, if you look at his numbers, is when Kirk Cousins got into the lineup,” CBS NFL analyst and two-time Super Bowl champion, Bryant McFadden said as he joined 92-9 The Game’s Mike Bell and Atlanta Falcons Radio Network analyst and former Falcons quarterback, Dave Archer, to share thoughts on Pitts performance.
“Kirk Cousins has really leaned on Kyle Pitts since he’s been starting,” McFadden said as he explained Pitts benefitting from the opportunities he has received due to Cousins being reinserted as the starting quarterback in addition to Drake London being sidelined the past few weeks due to injury.
However, while Pitts, who become just the second tight end since Shannon Sharpe in 1996, to record 150 receiving yards or more and three touchdowns in a game, displayed the potential of his talent level, whether he returns to the Falcons next year or ends up with another team, the tight end has yet to prove he can consistently be as reliable as he was on Thursday.
“He has to understand because of his talent, the expectations will always be high, so he will never be looked at as a mediocre tight end because he doesn’t have mediocre talent and maybe this is that opportunity for him to open up that source of consistency in the midst of what he’s doing now,” McFadden said explaining he believes Pitts must has to have the understanding and mindset he can only be stopped by himself.