.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually dealt with the team because 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers created early that Thursday night's video game would be actually an annoying slugfest with both groups racking up touchdowns on their 1st things, so it seemed to be fitting the NFC South showdown would be chosen through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gone into the contest after an accident to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ran out in requirement obliged overtime, and Relatives took care of the rest as he specified a franchise business record along with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his 5th green light passing goal in the last minute of regulation/OT in the last five times, which is actually the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between making the playoffs and not, between succeeding a division as well as not, hinges on activities such as this one, and Atlanta possesses actually possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have tracked within the ultimate min of the fourth one-fourth in all 3 of their victories this season. They are actually the first string in NFL background to have three victories within their initial five video games of a time through which they trailed in the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with dramatic back-to-back wins over New Orleans and also Tampa Gulf, Atlanta possesses an early lead in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could confirm essential in December and January in what appears to be a tight division.QB failure: Cousins appeared healthy and balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has actually tossed for 350 lawns and also three touchdowns in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa bay Bay-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard activities have actually come versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally picked up his 1st goal against Tampa Bay in the 1st quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney remains to appear more like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate pair of seasons with the Bears. He possessed his initial activity with numerous goal gets-- in 2021 he possessed a game along with a hurrying as well as acquiring goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 backyards are each near to occupation highs for him. He carried out possess pair of reduces, nevertheless, consisting of one that could possibly possess verified costly.Most shocking efficiency: A full week after not recording an elapsed versus New Orleans, limited conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his greatest statistical game in virtually a year, getting hold of 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again becoming aspect of Atlanta's outburst. His catches and also backyards are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th touchdown event, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the crew to defeat in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa fl winning the department recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, along with it presently being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a bunch of players it needs to obtain healthy and balanced, and also it possesses 9 times to carry out it. The Bucs have to learn how to finish, however, along with the affront entirely stymied in the second fifty percent and also bad tackling on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 lawns, 3 goals-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the first fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns coming against the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals with the initial 5 activities are actually a job best.But after the major first fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers rarely performed just about anything in the 2nd half by means of the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons often exploited K.J. Britt in protection. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 backyards of overall affront. It took an advance last week versus the Eagles in relations to overlooked attacks but struggled against the Falcons in this division. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in an activity considering that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).