.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has dealt with the group considering that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers set up very early that Thursday night's game will be an offending slugfest with both groups racking up goals on their first properties, so it seemed to be proper the NFC South showdown will be decided through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth goal of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten into the contest after an injury to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ended in policy obliged overtime, and also Relatives handled the rest as he established a franchise business document with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth okay passing goal in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the final 5 seasons, which is one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between creating the playoffs and also not, between gaining a division as well as not, depends on video games like this one, as well as Atlanta has currently had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the final moment of the 4th quarter in each three of their triumphes this period. They are actually the first team in NFL background to possess three wins within their very first 5 games of a season in which they trailed in the last min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with significant next sway New Orleans and also Tampa Bay, Atlanta possesses an early top in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can verify pivotal in December and January in what seems a tight division.QB failure: Relatives looked well-balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 gardens and 3 touchdowns in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be dominant when he encounters Tampa florida Gulf-- three of his four occupation 100-yard games have actually come against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He also picked up his very first goal versus Tampa fl Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of seasons with the Bears. He possessed his 1st activity with multiple touchdown finds-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a hurrying and receiving touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are each near to profession highs for him. He carried out possess two drops, having said that, including one that might have verified costly.Most unexpected performance: A week after not recording an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts invested his greatest analytical game in practically a year, getting 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again becoming component of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches and also yards are his very most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th touchdown event, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to beat in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay gaining the division the past 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, from it right now being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a great deal of gamers it requires to get healthy and balanced, and also it possesses 9 days to carry out it. The Bucs must discover just how to complete, though, along with the affront entirely obstructed in the 2nd half and also bad addressing on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 lawns, 3 goals-- 2 to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the very first fifty percent. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first half, along with all three touchdowns arriving against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns through the initial five activities are a career best.But after the significant initial fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers rarely performed just about anything in the second half via the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reservoir along with a shoulder accident, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 backyards of overall injustice. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in relations to missed attacks yet resisted the Falcons within this team. The Falcons do with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in an activity considering that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).