.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has covered the crew considering that 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa Bay Buccaneers set up early that Thursday night's activity would be an objectionable slugfest with both groups scoring goals on their 1st ownerships, so it seemed to be proper the NFC South showdown would certainly be decided through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth goal of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually entered the contest after a personal injury to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ran out in regulation obliged overtime, as well as Cousins handled the rest as he prepared a franchise document with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth permission passing touchdown in the last moment of regulation/OT in the final 5 times, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between creating the playoffs and also certainly not, between gaining a division and not, lies in video games such as this one, as well as Atlanta ga has currently possessed its reveal of them.The Falcons have routed within the last min of the 4th one-fourth in each 3 of their triumphes this period. They are the first team in NFL record to possess 3 wins within their first 5 games of a period through which they trailed in the ultimate min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with significant next gain New Orleans and Tampa Gulf, Atlanta has a very early top in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That can show critical in December and January in what seems a limited division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy and balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million arrangement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 goals as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 lawns and also three goals in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be prevalent when he deals with Tampa florida Bay-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard activities have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He also grabbed his initial goal against Tampa fl Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney remains to look more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his last 2 periods with the Bears. He possessed his very first activity along with a number of goal finds-- in 2021 he had an activity with a hurrying as well as receiving goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 backyards are each near occupation highs for him. He performed have pair of declines, having said that, including one that could possess confirmed costly.Most surprising functionality: A week after certainly not capturing a pass against New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts invested his ideal analytical video game in almost a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 lawns, once more becoming part of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches as well as lawns are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal reception, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa florida gaining the branch recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, using it right now being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a lot of gamers it needs to have to receive well-balanced, and it has 9 times to do it. The Bucs have to find out just how to finish, however, along with the offense totally prevented in the second half as well as unsatisfactory tackling on defense.QB breakdown: Cook Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 yards, three touchdowns-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the first half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first half, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the initial five activities are a profession best.But after the huge very first half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers rarely performed everything in the 2nd fifty percent with the air, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategy: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons repeatedly exploited K.J. Britt in coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' protection surrendering 550 yards of overall injustice. It took a progression last week against the Eagles in terms of missed attacks yet struggled against the Falcons within this division. The Falcons finished with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a game because Week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).