.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has dealt with the staff given that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and also Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers created very early that Thursday night's activity will be an offensive slugfest with both crews scoring touchdowns on their initial possessions, so it seemed fitting the NFC South face-off will be actually decided through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the video game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gone into the contest after a personal injury to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in law obliged overtime, as well as Cousins took care of the rest as he specified a franchise business report with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his 5th okay passing touchdown in the last min of regulation/OT in the last 5 times, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs and certainly not, between succeeding a division and also not, lies in video games like this one, and also Atlanta georgia possesses currently had its portion of them.The Falcons have trailed within the final min of the 4th quarter in all 3 of their success this period. They are the first team in NFL past to have 3 victories within their first 5 games of a season through which they routed in the last minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable back-to-back draw New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta ga possesses an early lead in the NFC South due to tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could verify pivotal in December and January in what appears to be a tight division.QB break down: Cousins appeared well-balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has tossed for 350 gardens and also three touchdowns in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually dominant when he deals with Tampa fl Bay-- three of his four occupation 100-yard video games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He likewise picked up his 1st goal versus Tampa florida Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two seasons along with the Bears. He possessed his 1st activity along with numerous touchdown catches-- in 2021 he possessed a video game with a hurrying as well as obtaining goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 gardens are each near profession highs for him. He performed have 2 decreases, having said that, featuring one that could possess proved costly.Most surprising efficiency: A week after certainly not capturing a pass versus New Orleans, tight conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his finest statistical video game in practically a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 lawns, once again emerging as part of Atlanta's outburst. His catches as well as gardens are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown function, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the group to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa fl winning the division recent three years. That proved out Thursday night, using it right now being actually a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a lot of players it needs to have to get well-balanced, as well as it possesses 9 times to accomplish it. The Bucs must know just how to complete, though, along with the offense completely prevented in the second fifty percent and inadequate tackling on defense.QB malfunction: Cook Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 passes for 131 yards, three touchdowns-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the very first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, along with all three touchdowns coming against the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the initial 5 video games are actually an occupation best.But after the large initial one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly performed anything in the second half by means of the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest hole in the game plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons consistently made use of K.J. Britt in coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 lawns of total offense. It took a progression last week against the Eagles in terms of missed tackles but resisted the Falcons within this team. The Falcons do with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a game considering that Week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).