Pitts Leads Falcons Offense in Tampa Bay Matchup

Kyle Pitts continues a strong stretch for the Atlanta Falcons as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. The matchup occurs in Week 8 of the NFL season, with both teams seeking to capitalize on recent winning momentum. The Buccaneers are favored by two points in this NFC South contest.

Atlanta recently stopped the San Francisco 49ers' undefeated run at home. Tampa Bay secured a 30-point upset victory in Carolina, a performance that validated their three-point spread advantage. The Buccaneers improved their standing with a 43-13 win in their previous game, a contest that marked the return of quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield threw for 64 yards in that victory. The offensive production relied heavily on the ground game, as running backs Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell, and Sean Tucker combined for 246 yards and three touchdowns. This rushing attack faces a Falcons defense that has limited opponents to 3.8 yards per carry and 88.4 rushing yards per game through the first seven weeks.

Derrick Henry is the only running back to exceed 100 yards against the Falcons defense. With wide receiver Emeka Egbuka unavailable, Mayfield is expected to direct more passes to Chris Godwin and Cade Otton. The Buccaneers employ a single-high safety scheme that has left their tight end coverage vulnerable. They blitz at the sixth-highest rate in the league, a tendency that can create openings underneath.

The Falcons offense centers on Bijan Robinson, who leads the NFL with 704 rushing yards. The Buccaneers defense allows 77.3 rushing yards per game and has conceded only two rushing touchdowns across seven games. This defensive strength against the run encourages Atlanta to use the passing game, particularly through Pitts.

Since Week 3, Pitts has caught 19 passes on 24 targets for 176 yards and four touchdowns. He has recorded at least five receptions in three consecutive games. In their matchup last season, Pitts scored three times against Tampa Bay. The current betting lines reflect this trend, with Pitts listed to exceed 3.5 receptions at odds of -118 on BetMGM. He is also available as an anytime touchdown scorer at +300 on FanDuel.