The Falcons lost their fourth straight game on Sunday against the Vikings, thanks to untimely penalties and a defense that couldn’t stop a nosebleed.
The offense actually performed admirably—penalties and Kirk Cousins‘ two interceptions aside. They racked up 500 total yards, moving the ball effectively through both the air and on the ground. All of Atlanta’s weapons got involved. Darnell Mooney led the charge with 142 receiving yards, while Ray-Ray McCloud had a career day, hauling in eight catches for 98 yards. On the ground, Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for over 150 rushing yards, showcasing the Falcons’ versatility.
Everyone was eating… except Kyle Pitts. The tight end finished with a disappointing stat line: one catch on six targets for just 14 yards.
At this point, it’s becoming harder to avoid the harsh reality: Kyle Pitts is on track to be one of the biggest busts in Falcons history. After a promising start to the season, he has managed just seven catches for 80 yards over the last five games. While it’s fair to acknowledge that some of the blame lies elsewhere—Kirk Cousins’ inconsistent play and Zac Robinson’s inability to scheme him open—there comes a point when Pitts himself must shoulder the responsibility.
Since his second season, Kyle Pitts has cycled through four quarterbacks and multiple offensive coordinators, and he hasn’t come close to replicating the Pro Bowl-level production of his historic rookie season. Factors like lazy route running, dropped passes—such as the costly one against the Vikings—and general underwhelming play have contributed to his decline, even if the circumstances around him have not always been ideal.
It’s becoming clear that Kyle Pitts has lost trust within the organization. With each passing week, he seems to be getting phased out of the offense in favor of Ray-Ray McCloud—a scenario few would have predicted just a year ago.
Perhaps a fresh start elsewhere will help Kyle Pitts rediscover his form, but his window to make an impact in Atlanta is closing rapidly.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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