.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You may observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually covered the crew considering that 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday night's activity would certainly be actually a repulsive slugfest along with both staffs racking up goals on their first properties, so it seemed to be suitable the NFC South showdown will be decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually entered into the contest after an accident to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time expired in rule obliged overtime, and Cousins cared for the remainder as he established a franchise business file along with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his 5th permission passing touchdown in the last min of regulation/OT in the final 5 periods, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, in between winning a branch and certainly not, hinges on video games similar to this one, as well as Atlanta ga possesses presently had its own portion of them.The Falcons have routed within the final min of the fourth quarter with all three of their wins this time. They are the first string in NFL history to possess three victories within their initial 5 games of a season through which they trailed in the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with significant next gain New Orleans and Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta georgia has an early top in the NFC South due to tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That might verify critical in December as well as January in what appears to be a tight division.QB failure: Cousins appeared well-balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 backyards, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has actually tossed for 350 backyards and three touchdowns in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be actually dominant when he faces Tampa fl Gulf-- 3 of his 4 career 100-yard activities have actually come versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally grabbed his first touchdown versus Tampa Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to appear even more like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of periods with the Bears. He possessed his 1st game along with a number of touchdown gets-- in 2021 he possessed an activity along with a rushing and also getting goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually both close to job highs for him. He performed have 2 decreases, however, consisting of one that might possess verified costly.Most unexpected efficiency: A full week after certainly not capturing an elapsed versus New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts invested his ideal statistical activity in just about a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 lawns, once more becoming aspect of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches and backyards are his very most because Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal event, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the team to trump in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa gaining the department the past 3 years. That proved out Thursday night, along with it today being actually a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a great deal of players it requires to obtain well-balanced, and it possesses 9 days to accomplish it. The Bucs have to discover exactly how to end up, however, along with the offense completely stymied in the second half as well as inadequate addressing on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- 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, with all three touchdowns coming versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals through the first 5 games are a profession best.But after the huge first half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly performed just about anything in the 2nd half via the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategy: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons repeatedly manipulated K.J. Britt in protection. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' protection surrendering 550 lawns of total offense. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in terms of skipped tackles yet struggled against the Falcons in this particular division. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in an activity considering that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).