.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You may follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has dealt with the crew given that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Gulf Buccaneers created very early that Thursday night's video game will be an objectionable slugfest along with both groups scoring goals on their very first things, so it seemed to be suitable the NFC South face-off would be made a decision by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gone into the contest after a personal injury to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in policy forced overtime, as well as Cousins looked after the rest as he prepared a franchise file along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his 5th okay passing touchdown in the final min of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is actually the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between creating the playoffs and also not, in between winning a department and also certainly not, depends on games such as this one, as well as Atlanta possesses presently possessed its own share of them.The Falcons have tracked within the final min of the 4th quarter in all three of their success this period. They are the first string in NFL record to possess 3 victories within their 1st 5 games of a season in which they routed in the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable back-to-back gain New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay, Atlanta georgia has an early top in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That can prove crucial in December and also January in what appears to be a limited division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 goals as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 backyards and also 3 goals in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa bay Bay-- three of his 4 occupation 100-yard games have actually arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise got his very first goal versus Tampa fl Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to appear additional like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two times with the Bears. He possessed his first activity along with numerous touchdown finds-- in 2021 he had an activity with a rushing as well as getting touchdown-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually both near career highs for him. He carried out possess two drops, nevertheless, including one that can have confirmed costly.Most unexpected functionality: A full week after certainly not catching an elapsed versus New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts placed in his greatest statistical video game in nearly a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 yards, once again becoming part of Atlanta's outburst. His catches as well as gardens are his very most because 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. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal event, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa florida gaining the division recent three years. That proved out Thursday evening, using it today being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a lot of gamers it needs to have to acquire healthy, as well as it has 9 times to perform it. The Bucs have to discover exactly how to complete, though, along with the offense entirely put on hold in the second one-half as well as inadequate addressing on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the 1st half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving against the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the 1st 5 video games are a career best.But after the huge first fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly carried out everything in the second one-half by means of the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest opening in the tactical plan: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons often capitalized on K.J. Britt in protection. He submitted an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 yards of complete injustice. It took a breakthrough last week versus the Eagles in regards to skipped confronts yet struggled against the Falcons within this division. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in an activity since Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).