.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You may observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually dealt with the group since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers set up early that Thursday night's game will be actually an offensive slugfest with both staffs racking up touchdowns on their first properties, so it appeared fitting the NFC South face-off would be actually decided by a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gotten in the competition after an accident to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in guideline compelled overtime, and also Relatives handled the rest as he set a franchise document along with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth permission passing goal in the last moment of regulation/OT in the final five times, which is actually the best 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, hinges on games such as this one, and also Atlanta has actually possessed its portion of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the final min of the 4th quarter with all 3 of their victories this period. They are actually the first string in NFL past to have three victories within their very first 5 activities of a season through which they tracked in the final minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with impressive next get New Orleans and also Tampa Gulf, Atlanta georgia possesses a very early lead in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That might show pivotal in December and January in what appears to be a strict division.QB malfunction: Cousins appeared healthy as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 backyards, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 yards and three goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be leading when he encounters Tampa Gulf-- 3 of his four profession 100-yard video games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally got his initial touchdown versus Tampa bay Bay in the 1st quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to appear additional like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate 2 periods with the Bears. He had his 1st game along with various touchdown gets-- in 2021 he possessed a video game with a rushing and also getting goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually each close to career highs for him. He performed have 2 drops, nonetheless, including one that might have proved costly.Most shocking performance: A full week after certainly not capturing a pass against New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts placed in his absolute best statistical video game in virtually a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 yards, once again becoming component of Atlanta's offense. His catches and backyards are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal function, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to trump in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa gaining the department the past 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, using it right now being a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a bunch of players it needs to receive healthy, and also it possesses 9 times to carry out it. The Bucs must know how to finish, however, along with the affront completely stymied in the second one-half and bad tackling on defense.QB breakdown: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, three touchdowns-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the first one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first one-half, with all three touchdowns coming versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns with the very first five video games are a profession best.But after the significant 1st fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely carried out everything in the second half through the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest hole in the tactical plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons often exploited K.J. Britt in coverage. He gave up an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense giving up 550 lawns of total affront. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in relations to skipped confronts however resisted the Falcons within this team. The Falcons do with 235 gardens after the catch, their most in a video game due to the fact that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).