.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the team since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and also Tampa Bay Buccaneers set up very early that Thursday night's video game would certainly be actually an outrageous slugfest along with both crews scoring goals on their first properties, so it seemed to be right the NFC South face-off would be determined through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his fourth goal of the activity, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually entered the contest after an 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 law forced overtime, as well as Relatives dealt with the remainder as he specified a franchise business file with 509 passing lawns to remove Atlanta (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his 5th okay passing touchdown in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the last 5 times, which is actually the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between creating the playoffs and not, between gaining a department and also not, depends on activities like this one, as well as Atlanta georgia possesses currently possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have trailed within the final moment of the fourth quarter with all 3 of their triumphes this period. They are the first string in NFL past history to have 3 triumphes within their initial 5 activities of a season in which they tracked in the last minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable next sway New Orleans and Tampa Florida Gulf, Atlanta possesses a very early lead in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could possibly show essential in December and January in what appears to be a strict division.QB break down: Relatives appeared healthy and balanced and back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 lawns, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 lawns and three goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be actually leading when he encounters Tampa Bay-- three of his 4 occupation 100-yard games have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He also picked up his first goal versus Tampa fl Gulf in the first quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney continues to appear additional like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of seasons with the Bears. He possessed his initial video game along with various touchdown catches-- in 2021 he had a video game along with a hurrying as well as acquiring goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are both close to career highs for him. He did possess 2 declines, however, featuring one that could have verified costly.Most unusual performance: A week after not recording an elapsed against New Orleans, strict side Kyle Pitts invested his absolute best statistical game in virtually a year, taking hold of 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more emerging as component of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches and gardens are his most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal function, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, even with Tampa succeeding the branch recent three years. That proved out Thursday night, along with it today being a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a bunch of gamers it needs to have to receive well-balanced, and it possesses nine days to accomplish it. The Bucs must learn just how to complete, though, with the injustice fully put on hold in the 2nd one-half and also unsatisfactory addressing on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 yards, three touchdowns-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns coming versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals with the initial five activities are actually a job best.But after the major first fifty percent, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely carried out everything in the second one-half by means of the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategy: Along with Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons regularly exploited K.J. Britt in protection. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 backyards of overall offense. It took a breakthrough recently versus the Eagles in regards to skipped attacks yet resisted the Falcons within this division. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in an activity given that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).