.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the crew since 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa Gulf Buccaneers established very early that Thursday evening's game would be actually an offensive slugfest with both crews racking up goals on their 1st belongings, so it appeared suitable the NFC South face-off would be actually chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his fourth goal of the video game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually entered the competition after a personal injury to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ended in policy compelled overtime, and also Cousins handled the remainder as he set a franchise business file along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th permission passing goal in the last minute of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between creating the playoffs and also not, between succeeding a branch and also not, hinges on video games like this one, as well as Atlanta possesses actually possessed its own allotment of them.The Falcons have routed within the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter in all 3 of their triumphes this season. They are the first string in NFL record to have three victories within their 1st 5 games of a time through which they tracked in the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic back-to-back get New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Atlanta possesses a very early top in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly verify essential in December as well as January in what seems a limited division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 lawns as well as 3 goals in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa bay Bay-- three of his 4 profession 100-yard video games have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He likewise picked up his initial goal versus Tampa florida Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney remains to appear even more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of times with the Bears. He possessed his 1st activity with various goal catches-- in 2021 he had a game with a hurrying and also obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 gardens are both near to job highs for him. He did have 2 drops, having said that, including one that might have verified costly.Most shocking performance: A week after certainly not catching an elapsed versus New Orleans, strict side Kyle Pitts invested his finest statistical activity in practically a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more becoming portion of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and lawns are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown function, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the crew to beat in the NFC South, despite Tampa florida gaining the division recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday evening, from it today being a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a considerable amount of players it needs to obtain healthy, as well as it possesses 9 times to do it. The Bucs must find out how to end up, though, along with the injustice fully prevented in the second half and also bad handling on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, 3 goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals via the 1st five games are actually a career best.But after the large first fifty percent, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers barely did everything in the 2nd half with the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reservoir with a shoulder accident, the Falcons routinely manipulated K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 lawns of total injustice. It took a breakthrough recently against the Eagles in regards to skipped confronts yet resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons completed with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a game since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).