.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has dealt with the group considering that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday night's activity will be an outrageous slugfest along with both crews scoring touchdowns on their initial possessions, so it seemed right the NFC South showdown would be actually decided by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gotten into the competition after a personal injury to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ran out in policy compelled overtime, and Relatives cared for the rest as he set a franchise document along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth green light passing goal in the last min of regulation/OT in the last 5 seasons, which is actually the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs as well as not, between winning a branch and also not, lies in video games such as this one, and also Atlanta georgia has already possessed its own allotment of them.The Falcons have tracked within the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter in all 3 of their success this time. They are actually the first string in NFL past history to possess 3 success within their 1st five activities of a period through which they tracked in the final minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with impressive next draw New Orleans and also Tampa Florida Gulf, Atlanta possesses an early lead in the NFC South because of sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could possibly confirm crucial in December and also January in what seems a tight division.QB break down: Relatives appeared healthy and balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has tossed for 350 lawns and also 3 goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually leading when he deals with Tampa fl Bay-- 3 of his 4 profession 100-yard games have arrived against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He likewise picked up his 1st touchdown versus Tampa Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney remains to look even more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate 2 periods along with the Bears. He possessed his first video game along with a number of touchdown finds-- in 2021 he had a game with a hurrying and also receiving goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 yards are both near job highs for him. He carried out possess two drops, nonetheless, consisting of one that could possibly possess shown costly.Most unusual efficiency: A week after not recording a pass against New Orleans, strict end Kyle Pitts put in his best statistical game in nearly a year, getting hold of 7 catches for 88 lawns, once more emerging as part of Atlanta's outburst. His catches as well as lawns are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal event, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the crew to trump in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa fl winning the department recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, along with it today being a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a bunch of players it needs to have to acquire healthy and balanced, and also it possesses 9 days to carry out it. The Bucs must discover just how to finish, though, along with the affront totally prevented in the second one-half and also inadequate tackling on defense.QB malfunction: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 lawns, three goals-- 2 to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the very first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving against the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns with the very first five video games are actually an occupation best.But after the large first one-half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly performed just about anything in the 2nd one-half with the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategic plan: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reservoir with a shoulder accident, the Falcons often capitalized on K.J. Britt in protection. He submitted an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 gardens of total offense. It took a breakthrough last week against the Eagles in terms of overlooked attacks but struggled against the Falcons within this department. The Falcons do with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in an activity because Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).