.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You may follow him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually covered the team due to the fact that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa Gulf Buccaneers set up early that Thursday night's activity will be actually an offending slugfest along with both staffs scoring touchdowns on their 1st ownerships, so it seemed proper the NFC South showdown would be actually chosen through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th touchdown of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had entered into the competition after an injury to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in regulation compelled overtime, as well as Relatives dealt with the remainder as he set a franchise business file along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth permission passing goal in the final min of regulation/OT in the last five seasons, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between making the playoffs and also certainly not, between gaining a branch and certainly not, depends on video games similar to this one, as well as Atlanta georgia has already possessed its reveal of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the last min of the fourth quarter in every three of their victories this time. They are the first team in NFL background to possess 3 triumphes within their first 5 video games of a period through which they tracked in the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with significant next sway New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Atlanta georgia has an early top in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can show pivotal in December and January in what appears to be a tight division.QB failure: Cousins looked healthy and balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million agreement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has actually tossed for 350 yards as well as 3 goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually dominant when he faces Tampa Bay-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard activities have arrived versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally grabbed his 1st goal against Tampa fl Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney continues to appear even more like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of times with the Bears. He had his first game with numerous goal catches-- in 2021 he possessed a game along with a rushing and obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 backyards are each close to occupation highs for him. He did have pair of decreases, nevertheless, consisting of one that could possess shown costly.Most unexpected performance: A full week after not catching a successfully pass against New Orleans, tight conclusion Kyle Pitts put in his ideal statistical game in almost a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more emerging as aspect of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and yards are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus 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 scratched his 99th touchdown reception, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the team to defeat in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa bay succeeding the branch the past three years. That proved out Thursday night, with it now being a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a considerable amount of gamers it needs to have to obtain healthy and balanced, and also it has 9 times to accomplish it. The Bucs have to know how to end up, however, with the offense fully stymied in the 2nd fifty percent as well as unsatisfactory tackling on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the first half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals through the 1st five activities are a job best.But after the large first fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely performed just about anything in the second fifty percent by means of the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategy: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons regularly manipulated K.J. Britt in protection. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense submitting 550 yards of total affront. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in terms of missed out on attacks yet resisted the Falcons within this division. The Falcons finished with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a video game due to the fact that Week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).