.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can easily follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has covered the crew since 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers created very early that Thursday evening's game will be a repulsive slugfest with both staffs scoring goals on their first ownerships, so it seemed right the NFC South showdown will be chosen by a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his 4th touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually entered into the contest after an accident to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ended in rule obliged overtime, and also Cousins cared for the remainder as he established a franchise business record along with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta georgia (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth permission passing touchdown in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the final five periods, which is actually the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, between gaining a branch and not, lies in video games such as this one, and Atlanta georgia possesses already had its portion of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter in every three of their wins this time. They are the first team in NFL background to possess 3 success within their initial 5 activities of a season through which they tracked in the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with impressive next wins over New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta ga possesses an early lead in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could possibly prove crucial in December as well as January in what appears to be a strict division.QB break down: Relatives looked healthy as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million arrangement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has actually tossed for 350 lawns and 3 touchdowns in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be actually prevalent when he encounters Tampa bay Gulf-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard games have come against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally grabbed his first touchdown against Tampa bay Bay in the first quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to appear additional like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two times with the Bears. He possessed his 1st activity along with a number of touchdown finds-- in 2021 he had a video game with a rushing as well as getting goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 gardens are both near profession highs for him. He performed possess 2 declines, nevertheless, featuring one that might have proved costly.Most astonishing functionality: A full week after certainly not recording a pass versus New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts invested his greatest statistical game in virtually a year, taking hold of 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again becoming portion of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches as well as yards are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown celebration, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the team to beat in the NFC South, even with Tampa florida succeeding the division recent three years. That proved out Thursday evening, using it today being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of players it needs to have to acquire healthy, as well as it possesses 9 times to do it. The Bucs have to know how to end up, though, with the offense fully stymied in the 2nd half as well as inadequate handling on defense.QB malfunction: Baker Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, 3 goals-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns through the initial 5 activities are actually a profession best.But after the significant very first one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely carried out just about anything in the 2nd half by means of the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest gap in the game plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons often made use of K.J. Britt in coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' defense submitting 550 backyards of overall injustice. It took a breakthrough last week versus the Eagles in relations to overlooked tackles however resisted the Falcons in this division. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in an activity due to the fact that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).