.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually dealt with the group because 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers set up early that Thursday night's video game would be a repulsive slugfest along with both crews scoring goals on their initial properties, so it seemed to be right the NFC South face-off will be actually chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually gotten into the competition after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in law obliged overtime, as well as Relatives took care of the rest as he specified a franchise file along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth green light passing goal in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the last 5 seasons, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between creating the playoffs as well as not, in between winning a division and also not, lies in games like this one, as well as Atlanta possesses presently had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have routed within the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter with all three of their triumphes this period. They are the first team in NFL background to have three success within their 1st five games of a season through which they trailed in the last min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic next gain New Orleans and Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta possesses an early lead in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly confirm pivotal in December and also January in what appears to be a strict division.QB malfunction: Relatives looked well-balanced and back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has thrown for 350 yards and 3 goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be actually prevalent when he deals with Tampa florida Gulf-- 3 of his four job 100-yard video games have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He also got his 1st goal against Tampa fl Bay in the 1st quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of times along with the Bears. He had his first activity with a number of goal finds-- in 2021 he had a game with a hurrying as well as receiving goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are each close to occupation highs for him. He carried out possess pair of declines, nonetheless, featuring one that might possess verified costly.Most unusual efficiency: A week after certainly not recording an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his greatest analytical video game in virtually a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again emerging as component of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and also lawns are his very most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal function, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa succeeding the branch recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, with it right now being actually a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a considerable amount of gamers it needs to have to acquire healthy, and also it possesses nine times to do it. The Bucs must find out how to end up, however, with the offense fully obstructed in the second half and also inadequate addressing on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 passes for 131 gardens, 3 touchdowns-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the 1st fifty percent. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns with the initial five activities are a career best.But after the large first one-half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers rarely did everything in the second one-half through the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest hole in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reservoir along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons regularly manipulated K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 yards of total injustice. It took an advance last week against the Eagles in terms of overlooked tackles but resisted the Falcons in this team. The Falcons completed with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in an activity because Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).