.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the team since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and also Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers created early that Thursday evening's activity would be actually a repulsive slugfest along with both groups scoring goals on their 1st belongings, so it seemed proper the NFC South showdown will be decided by a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gotten in the contest after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity ran out in rule required overtime, as well as Cousins cared for the rest as he established a franchise file along with 509 passing gardens to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth green light passing touchdown in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between creating the playoffs as well as not, between winning a department and also certainly not, depends on video games like this one, and also Atlanta georgia possesses actually had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the ultimate min of the fourth one-fourth in all 3 of their wins this time. They are actually the first string in NFL background to have three success within their 1st five video games of a period in which they trailed in the last moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable back-to-back get New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Atlanta georgia has an early lead in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could possibly confirm pivotal in December and January in what seems a tight division.QB malfunction: Relatives looked healthy and balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 lawns, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has actually tossed for 350 backyards as well as three goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be leading when he encounters Tampa florida Gulf-- three of his four profession 100-yard video games have actually come against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally picked up his 1st goal against Tampa fl Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final 2 times with the Bears. He had his very first activity with multiple touchdown sees-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a rushing and also receiving touchdown-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually both near to profession highs for him. He performed possess pair of declines, however, including one that might possess proved costly.Most unusual functionality: A full week after certainly not capturing a successfully pass against New Orleans, limited conclusion Kyle Pitts invested his finest statistical video game in almost a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more becoming aspect of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and also gardens are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown reception, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the group to beat in the NFC South, even with Tampa florida winning the department the past 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, from it today being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of gamers it needs to acquire healthy, as well as it possesses 9 days to perform it. The Bucs need to know how to end up, though, along with the injustice entirely obstructed in the 2nd fifty percent as well as inadequate dealing with on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, three touchdowns-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the very first one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st half, along with all three touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals through the 1st 5 games are actually an occupation best.But after the significant initial fifty percent, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely performed just about anything in the second one-half through the air, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: Along with Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in protection. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 lawns of complete injustice. It took an advance recently against the Eagles in regards to missed out on tackles but struggled against the Falcons in this division. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a video game considering that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).