.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily observe him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the group since 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday night's video game would certainly be actually an objectionable slugfest along with both teams racking up touchdowns on their 1st belongings, so it appeared fitting the NFC South showdown would certainly be actually decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his fourth goal of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten into the contest after an injury to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ran out in rule compelled overtime, and also Cousins took care of the remainder as he prepared a franchise report along with 509 passing lawns to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his fifth consent passing touchdown in the ultimate moment of regulation/OT in the final five periods, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, between winning a department and also certainly not, lies in activities similar to this one, and also Atlanta georgia possesses actually had its own reveal of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the last min of the fourth one-fourth in all 3 of their triumphes this time. They are the first team in NFL history to have three wins within their 1st five video games of a season in which they trailed in the final moment of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with dramatic back-to-back wins over New Orleans and also Tampa Bay Gulf, Atlanta georgia possesses an early top in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That might prove pivotal in December as well as January in what looks a limited division.QB malfunction: Cousins looked healthy and back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has actually thrown for 350 gardens and also three goals in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be actually prevalent when he faces Tampa fl Bay-- three of his 4 profession 100-yard activities have actually arrived versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise got his 1st goal against Tampa fl Gulf in the initial quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of times with the Bears. He possessed his very first activity with numerous touchdown gets-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a rushing and also getting goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 backyards are actually both near career highs for him. He carried out have 2 reduces, nevertheless, consisting of one that can have proved costly.Most surprising functionality: A full week after certainly not recording a pass against New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts invested his finest analytical game in almost a year, getting hold of 7 catches for 88 yards, once again becoming aspect of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches as well as backyards are his very most because Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown function, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the crew to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa winning the department recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday evening, using it presently being a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a considerable amount of players it needs to have to get healthy and balanced, and it possesses 9 days to perform it. The Bucs have to learn exactly how to end up, though, with the offense entirely put on hold in the second fifty percent and bad handling on defense.QB malfunction: Baker Mayfield finished 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the initial half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first half, with all three touchdowns coming versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the initial five video games are actually a profession best.But after the major very first one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely carried out anything in the second half through the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategy: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons routinely made use of K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection submitting 550 backyards of complete offense. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in relations to skipped tackles however resisted the Falcons in this particular team. The Falcons finished with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in an activity due to the fact that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).