.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can observe him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the team given that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers developed early that Thursday night's activity will be an offending slugfest along with both crews scoring goals on their initial possessions, so it seemed right the NFC South face-off will be actually chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gone into the competition after an accident to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ran out in guideline required overtime, and Relatives handled the rest as he established a franchise record with 509 passing gardens to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his 5th consent passing goal in the final minute of regulation/OT in the final 5 seasons, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between making the playoffs as well as not, between succeeding a division and not, lies in video games such as this one, and also Atlanta ga possesses actually had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the ultimate min of the fourth quarter in all three of their triumphes this period. They are the first team in NFL background to possess three victories within their initial five games of a season in which they routed in the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with significant next get New Orleans and Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta possesses an early lead in the NFC South due to tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could possibly prove critical in December and January in what appears to be a limited division.QB malfunction: Cousins looked well-balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has thrown for 350 lawns as well as 3 goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa fl Bay-- three of his 4 job 100-yard activities have actually come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally picked up his 1st goal versus Tampa fl Bay in the initial quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to look even more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate pair of periods along with the Bears. He possessed his first video game with several touchdown finds-- in 2021 he had a video game along with a hurrying and getting touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 backyards are actually each close to career highs for him. He did have two drops, nonetheless, featuring one that can have shown costly.Most surprising functionality: A full week after certainly not capturing an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his best analytical video game in nearly a year, getting hold of 7 catches for 88 lawns, once again emerging as aspect of Atlanta's offense. His catches as well as backyards are his most since Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown function, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, even with Tampa florida gaining the department the past 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, with it presently being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a great deal of gamers it needs to acquire well-balanced, and it possesses nine days to carry out it. The Bucs have to find out how to end up, though, along with the offense fully obstructed in the second fifty percent as well as inadequate addressing on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 lawns, three touchdowns-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first fifty percent, along with all three touchdowns coming against the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals with the initial 5 video games are a profession best.But after the major first fifty percent, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly did just about anything in the 2nd one-half via the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest hole in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons consistently manipulated K.J. Britt in coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 backyards of overall injustice. It took a step forward recently against the Eagles in regards to missed attacks but struggled against the Falcons within this department. The Falcons do with 235 lawns after the catch, their very most in a game considering that Week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).