.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily follow him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the team given that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers created very early that Thursday night's game will be actually an annoying slugfest along with both groups scoring touchdowns on their 1st belongings, so it seemed to be fitting the NFC South face-off would certainly be determined through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually entered into the contest after an injury to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time expired in rule compelled overtime, and Relatives handled the remainder as he specified a franchise record along with 509 passing backyards to remove Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his 5th okay passing touchdown in the final minute of regulation/OT in the final five seasons, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between creating the playoffs and certainly not, in between gaining a department as well as certainly not, lies in games similar to this one, and also Atlanta has already had its portion of them.The Falcons have routed within the ultimate min of the 4th one-fourth in each 3 of their victories this period. They are actually the first team in NFL past to have 3 success within their first five activities of a time through which they trailed in the last minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with impressive back-to-back draw New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta georgia has a very early top in the NFC South due to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That might confirm essential in December and also January in what seems a limited division.QB break down: Cousins looked well-balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million agreement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 gardens and three goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be leading when he experiences Tampa Gulf-- three of his four career 100-yard video games have arrived against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally picked up his initial goal against Tampa bay Bay in the very first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney remains to appear more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of times with the Bears. He had his first activity along with various touchdown catches-- in 2021 he possessed a game with a rushing as well as getting touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually each close to job highs for him. He performed have pair of declines, nevertheless, featuring one that might have proved costly.Most unusual performance: A week after certainly not catching a successfully pass against New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts put in his absolute best statistical game in almost a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more becoming part of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches as well as backyards are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th touchdown reception, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the team to defeat in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa gaining the branch recent three years. That rang true Thursday night, along with it presently being actually a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a ton of players it needs to have to receive healthy, and also it has 9 times to accomplish it. The Bucs need to discover how to finish, however, with the offense totally prevented in the second half and bad dealing with on defense.QB malfunction: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, three touchdowns-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the very first fifty percent. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns arriving against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the 1st 5 video games are a career best.But after the major first half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely did just about anything in the second half by means of the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategic plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense submitting 550 gardens of total affront. It took a step forward recently against the Eagles in relations to skipped tackles however struggled against the Falcons in this team. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in an activity considering that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).