Did Falcons' Kyle Pitts cross the goal line on debatable touchdown call?

For Kyle Pitts, the 2024 version of National Tight Ends Day will be one to forget. The Falcons tight end scored Atlanta's first touchdown of the afternoon in the Falcons' 31-26 victory against Tampa Bay, then appeared to score another midway through the second quarter. Kirk Cousins found Pitts for a 49-yard touchdown that sure seemed like it evened up the score in the crucial midseason divisional matchup.

But hold on just a second. What happened as Pitts crossed the goal line?

Here's a closer look:

Yes, Antoine Winfield Jr. caught up with Pitts, dove at the ball and knocked it loose just as Pitts was crossing the goal line. The initial ruling was a touchdown; if overturned, it would be Tampa Bay's ball on a touchback.

This is different from the usual "player drops the ball before crossing the goal line" mistake. Here, Pitts got a little too casual on the stroll into the end zone, and it nearly cost him. Review upheld the call on the field, which the partisan Tampa crowd booed without mercy.

The touchdown drew Atlanta even with the Bucs at 14 apiece midway through the second quarter. The Falcons went on to complete the regular-season sweep of Tampa Bay, 31-26.