.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the team given that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and also Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers developed early that Thursday evening's video game will be a repulsive slugfest along with both teams racking up touchdowns on their initial things, so it seemed suitable the NFC South showdown would be actually made a decision by a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten in the contest after a trauma to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity expired in requirement compelled overtime, and Cousins looked after the rest as he set a franchise business record along with 509 passing gardens to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th consent passing goal in the last minute of regulation/OT in the last 5 times, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs and certainly not, in between succeeding a branch and not, hinges on video games such as this one, as well as Atlanta ga possesses actually had its own share of them.The Falcons have tracked within the final min of the fourth quarter in each three of their success this season. They are the first team in NFL history to have three success within their initial five activities of a time in which they tracked in the final minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with significant back-to-back draw New Orleans and Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta ga possesses a very early lead in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could confirm pivotal in December and January in what looks a strict division.QB break down: Cousins appeared healthy and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 gardens, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 yards as well as three touchdowns in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be leading when he experiences Tampa Bay-- three of his four profession 100-yard video games have actually come against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his 1st goal against Tampa Bay in the very first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney remains to appear additional like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two seasons along with the Bears. He had his 1st video game with multiple touchdown sees-- in 2021 he had a game with a hurrying and also obtaining goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 yards are each close to occupation highs for him. He performed possess 2 declines, nonetheless, including one that could have verified costly.Most surprising efficiency: A week after not capturing a successfully pass versus New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts placed in his ideal statistical activity in nearly a year, taking hold of 7 catches for 88 lawns, once more becoming aspect of Atlanta's outburst. His catches and also gardens are his very most because Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown function, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the group to trump in the NFC South, even with Tampa fl winning the department recent three years. That proved out Thursday evening, with it today being actually a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a considerable amount of players it needs to have to get healthy and balanced, as well as it possesses 9 times to carry out it. The Bucs need to learn how to finish, however, with the injustice completely prevented in the 2nd half and also bad dealing with on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 yards, 3 goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first half, with all three touchdowns coming against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals with the first five activities are actually a career best.But after the big first half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers rarely did anything in the 2nd one-half via the air, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest hole in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons consistently made use of K.J. Britt in protection. He gave up an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 gardens of total offense. It took a step forward recently versus the Eagles in relations to overlooked confronts yet struggled against the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in a video game due to the fact that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).