.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually covered the crew because 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers developed early that Thursday night's game would certainly be actually an outrageous slugfest along with both teams scoring touchdowns on their 1st properties, so it seemed to be suitable the NFC South showdown will be chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth touchdown of the game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten into the contest after an accident to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in policy pushed overtime, and also Relatives handled the remainder as he set a franchise report along with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th okay passing goal in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the final five periods, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between making the playoffs and also not, in between winning a division and not, lies in activities such as this one, and also Atlanta georgia possesses already possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have trailed within the last min of the fourth quarter in every 3 of their success this time. They are the first team in NFL past history to have three success within their 1st 5 activities of a season in which they routed in the last minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic back-to-back wins over New Orleans and also Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta has an early lead in the NFC South because of sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That can verify pivotal in December and January in what looks a strict division.QB failure: Relatives appeared healthy and balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has thrown for 350 backyards and also 3 goals in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually leading when he experiences Tampa Bay-- three of his four occupation 100-yard games have come versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his initial touchdown against Tampa bay Gulf in the initial quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney remains to look even more like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of periods along with the Bears. He had his very first video game along with numerous goal sees-- in 2021 he possessed a video game with a hurrying as well as acquiring touchdown-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually each near profession highs for him. He performed possess two drops, however, including one that can have proved costly.Most astonishing functionality: A full week after certainly not capturing a pass versus New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts placed in his ideal analytical activity in just about a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again becoming aspect of Atlanta's offense. His catches and also lawns are his very most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal function, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the team to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa gaining the division the past 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, with it presently being actually a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a ton of players it requires to obtain healthy, as well as it possesses nine times to do it. The Bucs need to find out how to complete, though, with the offense fully put on hold in the second fifty percent and also poor handling on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the very first half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial one-half, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals via the initial 5 games are a profession best.But after the significant initial half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly did anything in the second fifty percent by means of the air, completing 49 yards.Biggest hole in the game plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on wounded reservoir along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons often capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' self defense surrendering 550 lawns of complete offense. It took a breakthrough recently against the Eagles in relations to missed confronts but struggled against the Falcons in this particular team. The Falcons finished with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a video game due to the fact that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).