.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the group because 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and also Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers established very early that Thursday evening's video game will be an offending slugfest with both groups scoring touchdowns on their initial properties, so it appeared proper the NFC South face-off would certainly be actually decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gone into the competition after an accident to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in law forced overtime, as well as Relatives looked after the remainder as he established a franchise business document with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his 5th go-ahead passing touchdown in the ultimate moment of regulation/OT in the final 5 times, which is actually the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between creating the playoffs and also not, in between winning a branch as well as not, depends on activities similar to this one, and also Atlanta ga has presently had its portion of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the final min of the fourth one-fourth in each three of their victories this time. They are the first team in NFL record to possess 3 wins within their first five games of a period through which they trailed in the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic next draw New Orleans and Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta georgia has a very early lead in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could prove crucial in December and January in what seems a strict division.QB failure: Relatives looked well-balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has thrown for 350 gardens and also 3 goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be actually dominant when he encounters Tampa florida Bay-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard video games have actually come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his first goal versus Tampa Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two periods with the Bears. He had his first activity with multiple touchdown catches-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a hurrying and acquiring goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually both near to career highs for him. He carried out have two drops, however, including one that might have proved costly.Most unexpected performance: A week after certainly not recording a successfully pass versus New Orleans, strict end Kyle Pitts invested his absolute best statistical game in almost a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again emerging as part of Atlanta's outburst. His catches as well as lawns are his most because Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown event, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the crew to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa fl winning the department recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, along with it now being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a bunch of players it requires to receive healthy, and it possesses nine times to carry out it. The Bucs need to discover how to end up, however, along with the affront fully put on hold in the 2nd one-half and also poor dealing with on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 yards, 3 goals-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first half, with all 3 touchdowns coming against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the initial five games are a job best.But after the huge initial one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely did anything in the 2nd fifty percent by means of the air, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons routinely made use of K.J. Britt in protection. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense surrendering 550 backyards of complete injustice. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in regards to missed confronts yet resisted the Falcons within this department. The Falcons finished with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a video game due to the fact that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).