.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can easily observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the team due to the fact that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers created early that Thursday night's video game would certainly be actually a repulsive slugfest with both teams scoring touchdowns on their first things, so it appeared right the NFC South showdown would certainly be actually decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his 4th goal of the activity, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gotten in the competition after an accident to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ran out in regulation required overtime, as well as Relatives took care of the remainder as he specified a franchise file with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his fifth permission passing goal in the last min of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between making the playoffs and certainly not, between succeeding a department as well as certainly not, hinges on activities like this one, and Atlanta possesses currently possessed its own share of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the ultimate minute of the fourth one-fourth in all 3 of their victories this period. They are the first team in NFL past history to have three success within their first 5 activities of a period in which they tracked in the final moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with dramatic back-to-back sway New Orleans as well as Tampa Florida Gulf, Atlanta possesses an early top in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could possibly prove essential in December and also January in what seems a strict division.QB malfunction: Relatives appeared well-balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 goals as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has thrown for 350 backyards as well as 3 goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually prevalent when he deals with Tampa bay Bay-- 3 of his four job 100-yard games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise grabbed his 1st goal versus Tampa Bay in the first quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney continues to appear additional like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two periods with the Bears. He had his initial activity with a number of touchdown catches-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a rushing as well as getting touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 backyards are actually each close to occupation highs for him. He did have pair of decreases, however, including one that might have verified costly.Most unexpected functionality: A full week after certainly not catching a successfully pass versus New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts invested his finest statistical activity in just about a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more emerging as component of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches as well as gardens are his most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal celebration, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa florida winning the branch the past three years. That rang true Thursday night, using it right now being actually a three-team race along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a ton of players it needs to have to receive healthy, as well as it has nine times to carry out it. The Bucs need to learn exactly how to complete, though, along with the injustice fully put on hold in the second fifty percent and inadequate handling on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, three goals-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the very first fifty percent. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, along with all three touchdowns coming versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns with the very first 5 activities are actually a career best.But after the huge 1st fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely performed just about anything in the second half with the air, completing 49 yards.Biggest opening in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reservoir along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 gardens of overall affront. It took a breakthrough recently against the Eagles in regards to skipped attacks however resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons finished with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in an activity since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).