.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can observe him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the team since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers developed early that Thursday evening's activity would certainly be actually an outrageous slugfest along with both teams scoring touchdowns on their initial ownerships, so it seemed to be right the NFC South face-off would be actually chosen by a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten in the contest after a trauma to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ran out in law compelled overtime, and also Relatives dealt with the rest as he prepared a franchise document along with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth okay passing touchdown in the last moment of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between creating the playoffs as well as not, in between succeeding a department and not, lies in video games enjoy this one, as well as Atlanta georgia has already had its reveal of them.The Falcons have trailed within the last minute of the fourth quarter with all three of their victories this season. They are actually the first team in NFL record to have 3 victories within their first five video games of a season through which they trailed in the ultimate min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with impressive next get New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta ga possesses a very early lead in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That can verify critical in December and also January in what looks a strict division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy and balanced and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has actually tossed for 350 backyards and three touchdowns in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be dominant when he faces Tampa Gulf-- three of his 4 occupation 100-yard video games have actually arrived versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise grabbed his 1st goal versus Tampa Bay in the first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to appear more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final 2 times with the Bears. He had his initial game along with several touchdown catches-- in 2021 he had a video game along with a hurrying as well as receiving goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 gardens are both close to career highs for him. He did have 2 reduces, however, featuring one that could possibly have verified costly.Most shocking performance: A full week after certainly not recording a successfully pass versus New Orleans, strict conclusion Kyle Pitts put in his finest analytical game in practically a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 lawns, once more becoming portion of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and also lawns are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal celebration, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the crew to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay winning the branch the past 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, along with it presently being a three-team race along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a considerable amount of gamers it requires to acquire well-balanced, and also it possesses 9 times to perform it. The Bucs need to learn exactly how to end up, however, along with the offense fully put on hold in the second half and unsatisfactory tackling on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 passes for 131 yards, three goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the first fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns arriving against the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the first 5 activities are actually a job best.But after the huge first fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely carried out everything in the second one-half by means of the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve along with a shoulder accident, the Falcons often made use of K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 gardens of total affront. It took a breakthrough recently versus the Eagles in relations to missed out on tackles however struggled against the Falcons in this team. The Falcons completed with 235 yards after the catch, their most in a video game because Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).