.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has dealt with the staff given that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers created very early that Thursday night's activity would certainly be an annoying slugfest with both teams scoring goals on their very first things, so it seemed fitting the NFC South showdown will be actually decided through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his fourth touchdown of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had entered into the contest after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in law pushed overtime, and also Relatives dealt with the remainder as he established a franchise business file with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his 5th consent passing touchdown in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the last 5 times, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, between winning a branch as well as not, depends on games such as this one, as well as Atlanta has actually had its portion of them.The Falcons have routed within the final moment of the 4th one-fourth in all 3 of their triumphes this period. They are the first string in NFL record to have three wins within their initial five video games of a period through which they routed in the last min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with significant next sway New Orleans and also Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta possesses an early top in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can confirm pivotal in December as well as January in what looks a limited division.QB breakdown: Cousins appeared well-balanced and also 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 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has thrown for 350 backyards as well as 3 touchdowns in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually dominant when he deals with Tampa Bay-- three of his 4 occupation 100-yard video games have actually come against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise got his 1st goal versus Tampa Bay in the very first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney remains to look additional like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two periods with the Bears. He possessed his first video game along with various goal catches-- in 2021 he possessed a video game with a rushing and obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are each near to career highs for him. He did have two drops, nevertheless, consisting of one that might have verified costly.Most shocking functionality: A full week after certainly not capturing a successfully pass versus New Orleans, limited conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his greatest statistical video game in almost a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again becoming part of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches and also backyards are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal event, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the group to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa fl succeeding the department recent three years. That proved out Thursday evening, using it presently being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a bunch of players it needs to receive well-balanced, and it possesses nine days to do it. The Bucs have to discover just how to end up, however, along with the injustice completely stymied in the second one-half and also bad dealing with on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, three goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the first one-half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first half, along with all 3 touchdowns coming versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the 1st five activities are actually a career best.But after the big first half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely performed anything in the 2nd one-half through the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve along with a shoulder accident, the Falcons often capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 gardens of complete affront. It took a progression recently against the Eagles in relations to missed out on tackles but struggled against the Falcons in this particular division. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in an activity since Full week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).