.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the group because 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and also Tampa Gulf Buccaneers set up early that Thursday evening's game would certainly be an offensive slugfest along with both teams scoring goals on their 1st belongings, so it seemed to be right the NFC South face-off would be chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gone into the contest after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ended in regulation required overtime, as well as Relatives cared for the remainder as he set a franchise record with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his 5th green light passing touchdown in the final moment of regulation/OT in the last five seasons, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between creating the playoffs and not, between succeeding a branch as well as certainly not, depends on activities such as this one, as well as Atlanta georgia possesses currently had its share of them.The Falcons have routed within the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter in every three of their wins this period. They are actually the first team in NFL history to possess 3 triumphes within their very first 5 activities of a time through which they routed in the final minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic back-to-back wins over New Orleans and also Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta ga possesses an early lead in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That might show pivotal in December as well as January in what seems a limited division.QB failure: Cousins looked healthy and balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 yards as well as three touchdowns in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be dominant when he faces Tampa Gulf-- 3 of his 4 career 100-yard video games have come against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He also picked up his initial goal versus Tampa bay Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two times along with the Bears. He had his first activity along with multiple goal sees-- in 2021 he had a video game with a rushing as well as receiving touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually each near to occupation highs for him. He performed possess pair of reduces, however, consisting of one that could possibly have verified costly.Most surprising performance: A full week after not catching a pass versus New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts placed in his greatest analytical activity in just about a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 yards, once more becoming component of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches as well as gardens are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal celebration, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the staff to beat in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay gaining the division recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, using it now being a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of gamers it needs to have to obtain well-balanced, as well as it has 9 times to do it. The Bucs need to know just how to end up, however, with the affront completely obstructed in the 2nd fifty percent and inadequate tackling on defense.QB malfunction: Cook Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 passes for 131 yards, 3 goals-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the 1st one-half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial half, with all three touchdowns coming versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns through the 1st five video games are a job best.But after the large initial fifty percent, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers barely performed everything in the second half through the air, completing 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategy: Along with Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He submitted an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense submitting 550 lawns of complete affront. It took a breakthrough last week versus the Eagles in regards to missed tackles but resisted the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their very most in an activity considering that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).