The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a familiar problem waiting for them at Raymond James Stadium in Week 8: Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. The Buccaneers have not beaten Atlanta at home since October 2022, according to Locked On Bucs host James Yarcho, and Pitts has been a major reason the matchup has gone sideways for Tampa Bay.
Yarcho, the host of Locked On Bucs, called slowing Pitts Tampa Bay’s most important defensive task during a crossover episode with Locked On Falcons host Aaron Freeman. Yarcho said Pitts has 629 career receiving yards and six touchdowns against the Buccaneers, both far ahead of his production against any other opponent. Last season’s meeting in Tampa offered the sharpest reminder, when Pitts posted 11 catches, 166 yards and three touchdowns in Atlanta’s 29-28 win.
Pitts already has four touchdown catches through seven games in 2026. The Falcons also bring NFL rushing leader Bijan Robinson, who has 704 rushing yards and 907 yards from scrimmage, so Tampa Bay cannot simply overload its coverage toward Pitts. That is the bind Yarcho described: Commit extra resources to Robinson and leave room for Pitts, or limit the tight end and invite Atlanta to lean harder on its ground game.
The Buccaneers’ answer starts with their own running game. Yarcho argued the Bucs need to stay committed to the rush rather than asking quarterback Baker Mayfield to carry the offense with another low-volume, low-margin passing plan. Sustained drives would keep Pitts, Robinson and wide receiver Drake London off the field while giving Tampa Bay’s defense more favorable situations.
The linebacker picture makes the assignment worth watching. Buccaneers rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter (illness) did not practice Wednesday, as Yarcho noted in the episode, but Tampa Bay’s Thursday game preview said he is expected to play Sunday. Trotter has led the team in tackles in every game he has started, and his availability would give the Bucs another downhill defender against Robinson while helping them account for Pitts underneath.
Freeman, the host of Locked On Falcons, said Atlanta’s offense is at its best when an early rushing attack creates play-action opportunities for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. That puts more pressure on Tampa Bay to win early downs without losing track of Pitts. If the Bucs can force longer passing situations, they can make Atlanta’s tight end less of a matchup weapon and give their pass rush a chance to affect Penix.
For Tampa Bay, ending the home skid against Atlanta likely requires two connected outcomes: Keep Pitts from dictating coverage and control possession with running back Bucky Irving. If either part fails, the Falcons have enough complementary threats to make another long afternoon in Tampa possible.
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