.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can observe him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the crew because 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa Gulf Buccaneers set up very early that Thursday evening's activity will be actually an annoying slugfest along with both crews scoring goals on their 1st possessions, so it seemed suitable the NFC South face-off would be actually decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gotten in the contest after an injury to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in law required overtime, as well as Cousins handled the rest as he prepared a franchise file with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his 5th green light passing goal in the last moment of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs and not, between winning a division and not, lies in activities like this one, and also Atlanta has presently had its reveal of them.The Falcons have trailed within the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter with all three of their victories this time. They are the first team in NFL history to possess three triumphes within their very first 5 video games of a time through which they trailed in the final min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable next wins over New Orleans as well as Tampa Florida Gulf, Atlanta possesses an early lead in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That can prove critical in December as well as January in what looks a strict division.QB malfunction: Relatives looked healthy and back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million arrangement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 backyards as well as three touchdowns in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually leading when he faces Tampa fl Gulf-- 3 of his 4 occupation 100-yard games have actually arrived versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He additionally picked up his first touchdown versus Tampa florida Bay in the initial quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to appear more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of periods with the Bears. He had his 1st video game with various touchdown gets-- in 2021 he had a game with a rushing as well as acquiring goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 gardens are actually each near to job highs for him. He carried out have two reduces, however, featuring one that could possess proved costly.Most surprising performance: A week after not capturing a pass versus New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts invested his ideal analytical activity in practically a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again emerging as portion of Atlanta's offense. His catches and gardens are his very most because Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal event, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the group to defeat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa florida succeeding the branch the past three years. That proved out Thursday evening, using it now being a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a ton of players it needs to acquire well-balanced, and it possesses nine times to carry out it. The Bucs need to find out exactly how to end up, however, with the offense totally obstructed in the 2nd one-half and poor tackling on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 lawns, 3 goals-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first one-half, along with all three touchdowns coming versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the initial five video games are a career best.But after the major 1st one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely performed everything in the second half through the air, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reservoir with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons routinely exploited K.J. Britt in coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense relinquishing 550 backyards of complete injustice. It took a progression last week versus the Eagles in regards to missed out on tackles but resisted the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons completed with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a game due to the fact that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).