.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the group since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers developed early that Thursday evening's activity would certainly be actually an annoying slugfest with both crews scoring goals on their first possessions, so it seemed suitable the NFC South showdown will be chosen by a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had entered the competition after a trauma to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time expired in policy obliged overtime, as well as Cousins dealt with the rest as he established a franchise document with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth permission passing goal in the final min of regulation/OT in the last five times, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between making the playoffs and certainly not, in between succeeding a division and certainly not, depends on activities like this one, as well as Atlanta has currently had its allotment of them.The Falcons have routed within the final minute of the fourth quarter in all 3 of their success this season. They are the first team in NFL record to have 3 triumphes within their initial 5 activities of a time through which they trailed in the last moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with dramatic back-to-back draw New Orleans and also Tampa Bay Gulf, Atlanta has an early lead in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That might show crucial in December and January in what looks a limited division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy and balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 backyards and three goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be dominant when he deals with Tampa florida Bay-- three of his 4 job 100-yard video games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally picked up his very first touchdown versus Tampa fl Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two times along with the Bears. He possessed his 1st video game along with various touchdown sees-- in 2021 he possessed a game along with a hurrying and acquiring touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 backyards are actually each near to job highs for him. He did possess 2 declines, nonetheless, including one that might possess confirmed costly.Most astonishing performance: A week after not recording an elapsed versus New Orleans, limited conclusion Kyle Pitts put in his greatest statistical video game in just about a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 yards, once more becoming component of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and also backyards are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown celebration, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to trump in the NFC South, despite Tampa bay winning the division recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday evening, from it right now being actually a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a considerable amount of players it requires to obtain healthy and balanced, as well as it has 9 times to accomplish it. The Bucs need to learn how to end up, however, along with the offense completely obstructed in the second fifty percent and inadequate tackling on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield completed 13 of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, 3 goals-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the first fifty percent. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st half, along with all 3 touchdowns coming against the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the initial 5 video games are a career best.But after the big first one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely did anything in the second half by means of the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest opening in the game plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons often exploited K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 gardens of total injustice. It took a progression last week versus the Eagles in relations to missed out on confronts however resisted the Falcons within this division. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a video game due to the fact that Week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).