.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You may observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has covered the staff since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa Bay Buccaneers established very early that Thursday evening's game would certainly be actually a repulsive slugfest along with both staffs racking up touchdowns on their 1st things, so it seemed to be fitting the NFC South face-off would be decided by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th goal of the activity, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gone into the contest after a personal injury to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity ran out in requirement forced overtime, and Cousins dealt with the remainder as he specified a franchise report with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his 5th okay passing touchdown in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the final 5 periods, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between making the playoffs and certainly not, in between gaining a branch and also certainly not, hinges on games enjoy this one, and Atlanta has already had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the last min of the fourth one-fourth with all 3 of their success this season. They are actually the first team in NFL past history to have three triumphes within their 1st 5 games of a season in which they trailed in the ultimate min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with significant next gain New Orleans and also Tampa Bay, Atlanta georgia possesses an early lead in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can prove critical in December and January in what seems a tight division.QB breakdown: Cousins looked healthy and balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 backyards and also three goals in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be prevalent when he deals with Tampa bay Bay-- 3 of his four career 100-yard games have actually come against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He also grabbed his very first goal against Tampa bay Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of periods with the Bears. He possessed his initial game with several touchdown gets-- in 2021 he possessed a video game along with a rushing as well as acquiring goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 gardens are both near to job highs for him. He carried out possess pair of declines, nevertheless, including one that could have confirmed costly.Most unusual efficiency: A full week after not capturing a pass against New Orleans, strict conclusion Kyle Pitts put in his greatest analytical game in almost a year, taking hold of 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again emerging as part of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches and also backyards are his most because Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal function, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa fl gaining the department recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, from it presently being a three-team race along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a ton of players it needs to obtain healthy, as well as it has 9 times to accomplish it. The Bucs have to find out exactly how to finish, however, along with the injustice totally stymied in the second one-half as well as bad handling on defense.QB malfunction: Baker Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 yards, three goals-- 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 three touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the first 5 activities are actually a profession best.But after the big 1st half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers barely carried out everything in the 2nd fifty percent through the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest hole in the game plan: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reservoir along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons often made use of K.J. Britt in protection. He surrendered an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection relinquishing 550 lawns of overall injustice. It took an advance last week against the Eagles in relations to overlooked attacks but struggled against the Falcons within this department. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their most in an activity given that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).