.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You may follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has covered the group because 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday evening's game would certainly be actually a repulsive slugfest along with both groups racking up touchdowns on their 1st things, so it seemed proper the NFC South face-off would be actually chosen through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his fourth touchdown of the game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gone into the competition after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in law compelled overtime, as well as Relatives cared for the rest as he specified a franchise business document along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th go-ahead passing goal in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the last five seasons, which is actually the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between creating the playoffs and certainly not, in between gaining a division and certainly not, hinges on activities similar to this one, as well as Atlanta possesses presently had its own share of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the last minute of the fourth one-fourth in each 3 of their success this time. They are actually the first team in NFL past history to possess 3 triumphes within their initial 5 video games of a season in which they routed in the ultimate min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic next gain New Orleans as well as Tampa Gulf, Atlanta has a very early lead in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could possibly prove crucial in December and January in what looks a strict division.QB breakdown: Relatives looked healthy and balanced and back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 gardens as well as 3 touchdowns in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be prevalent when he deals with Tampa Gulf-- 3 of his four profession 100-yard video games have come against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise got his 1st goal versus Tampa florida Bay in the first quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney remains to look additional like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his last 2 periods along with the Bears. He possessed his 1st activity with various touchdown catches-- in 2021 he possessed an activity along with a hurrying and also getting touchdown-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 yards are both near to occupation highs for him. He performed possess two reduces, however, including one that could possibly have shown costly.Most surprising functionality: A full week after not catching a pass versus New Orleans, strict side Kyle Pitts placed in his ideal statistical video game in just about a year, getting hold of 7 catches for 88 lawns, once again becoming component of Atlanta's offense. His catches and gardens are his very most given that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown reception, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the team to beat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa bay winning the department recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday evening, from it now being a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a great deal of gamers it needs to get well-balanced, and also it possesses nine days to perform it. The Bucs have to discover exactly how to end up, however, with the offense completely prevented in the second one-half and poor addressing on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 yards, three goals-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first half, with all three touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals via the initial five video games are actually a career best.But after the significant first fifty percent, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly performed everything in the second one-half with the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons consistently made use of K.J. Britt in protection. He surrendered an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 yards of total affront. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in regards to skipped attacks yet resisted the Falcons in this team. The Falcons finished with 235 lawns after the catch, their very 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. thirteen).