.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has dealt with the team given that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and also Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers established early that Thursday night's game will be actually an annoying slugfest along with both crews racking up goals on their first belongings, so it appeared right the NFC South face-off will be determined through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his fourth touchdown of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had entered into the competition after a personal injury to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity ended in rule required overtime, and also Relatives dealt with the remainder as he specified a franchise document along with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his 5th go-ahead passing goal in the ultimate moment of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between making the playoffs and certainly not, in between succeeding a department as well as certainly not, hinges on video games enjoy this one, as well as Atlanta ga has already had its share of them.The Falcons have tracked within the final moment of the 4th quarter in every 3 of their success this period. They are actually the first string in NFL history to have 3 victories within their 1st five games of a time through which they routed in the ultimate min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with impressive next get New Orleans and Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta ga possesses an early lead in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could confirm crucial in December as well as January in what seems a strict division.QB malfunction: Cousins looked well-balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand agreement 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 actually thrown for 350 lawns and three goals in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually prevalent when he experiences Tampa Bay-- three of his four occupation 100-yard video games have actually arrived versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He also grabbed his 1st goal against Tampa Bay in the 1st quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to appear more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two seasons along with the Bears. He had his first video game with a number of goal finds-- in 2021 he possessed a video game with a rushing and also obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are each near profession highs for him. He performed have two reduces, having said that, consisting of one that could possibly possess confirmed costly.Most unexpected performance: A week after not capturing an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts invested his ideal statistical video game in nearly a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 yards, once more emerging as portion of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches and also yards are his most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal event, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to defeat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa florida succeeding the branch recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, from it right now being actually a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a lot of players it needs to have to acquire healthy and balanced, as well as it has nine days to perform it. The Bucs need to learn just how to finish, though, with the affront completely stymied in the second one-half and also unsatisfactory handling on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- 2 to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the first half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st one-half, along with all three touchdowns coming against the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals with the very first 5 activities are actually a profession best.But after the major first fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly carried out just about anything in the second half with the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategic plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reservoir along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons repeatedly exploited K.J. Britt in protection. He gave up an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection submitting 550 gardens of overall injustice. It took a step forward recently against the Eagles in terms of skipped tackles however struggled against the Falcons within this department. The Falcons completed with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a video game due to the fact that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).