Falcons fend off Buccaneers, improve to 4-0 vs. NFC South

Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 29 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns, leading the visiting Atlanta Falcons to a 31-26 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Darnell Mooney had five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown, while Kyle Pitts hauled in four receptions for 91 yards and two scores as the Falcons (5-3) improved to 4-0 against NFC South opponents.

Baker Mayfield completed 37 of 50 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions as Tampa Bay (4-4) lost its fourth game in six tries. Cade Otton led the Buccaneers with nine receptions for 81 yards and two scores.

Holding a 24-17 halftime lead, the Falcons punted on their opening drive of the third quarter, but Jessie Bates III intercepted Mayfield on the Falcons' 8-yard line.

Atlanta punted again, but regained possession after snuffing out a Tampa Bay fake punt attempt on the Buccaneers' 36-yard line. Cousins then threw his fourth touchdown on a 6-yard pass to Bijan Robinson.

Tampa Bay threatened on the next drive, but A.J. Terrell intercepted Mayfield on the Buccaneers' 6. Two plays later, however, Cousins and Tyler Allgeier's shaky handoff led to a safety.

The Buccaneers then cut their deficit to 31-26 with 6:52 left in the fourth quarter on Mayfield's 4-yard touchdown pass to Otton, stamping a 12-play, 73-yard drive.

With a chance to ice the game, the Falcons had to settle for Younghoe Koo's 46-yard field goal attempt with 1:06 remaining, which was pushed wide right. Needing a touchdown to win, Tampa Bay reached the Falcons' 38, where Mayfield's Hail Mary was incomplete as time expired.

Atlanta's defense accounted for the game's first big play, as Bates forced and recovered a fumble by Rachaad White on Tampa Bay's second play from scrimmage. Cousins then found Pitts for a 36-yard touchdown with 12:52 left in the first quarter, giving Atlanta a 7-0 lead.

Tampa Bay then pieced together a 15-play, 70-yard drive, resulting in a 5-yard touchdown pass to Otton. After an Atlanta punt, the Buccaneers drove 97 yards for a go-ahead score, as Mayfield hit White for an 18-yard touchdown pass.

Pitts caught his second touchdown of the game, a career-long 49-yarder, to even the score at 14 with 7:19 left in the second quarter. Following a Tampa Bay punt, Atlanta scored on its second straight possession, as Cousins connected with Mooney on a 30-yard touchdown.

Chase McLaughlin and Koo traded field goals on the next two drives before halftime.

--Field Level Media