.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually dealt with the team considering that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa Gulf Buccaneers established early that Thursday night's game will be a repulsive slugfest along with both teams scoring goals on their first properties, so it seemed fitting the NFC South showdown would be determined through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gone into the competition after a personal injury to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity ran out in requirement required overtime, as well as Cousins cared for the remainder as he set a franchise record along with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth go-ahead passing touchdown in the last moment of regulation/OT in the last 5 seasons, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs and certainly not, between succeeding a branch and also certainly not, lies in video games similar to this one, and Atlanta ga has currently had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have trailed within the final minute of the 4th quarter in all three of their success this period. They are actually the first string in NFL past to possess 3 victories within their 1st five activities of a season in which they tracked in the final minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable back-to-back wins over New Orleans and Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta possesses an early top in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could confirm critical in December and also January in what appears to be a strict division.QB failure: Cousins appeared well-balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 yards as well as three 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 prevalent when he deals with Tampa bay Gulf-- 3 of his 4 occupation 100-yard video games have come versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his initial goal against Tampa fl Gulf in the first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of periods with the Bears. He had his first game along with numerous touchdown gets-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a rushing as well as receiving touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 gardens are actually both near to career highs for him. He did have 2 drops, nonetheless, featuring one that could possibly have shown costly.Most unusual performance: A week after not recording a successfully pass against New Orleans, strict conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his absolute best analytical game in practically a year, getting 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again emerging as portion of Atlanta's offense. His catches and lawns are his most since Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown reception, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to trump in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa fl winning the branch recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, along with it presently being actually a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a considerable amount of gamers it requires to acquire healthy, and it possesses nine days to carry out it. The Bucs must learn how to finish, however, with the injustice totally put on hold in the 2nd one-half as well as inadequate addressing on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 gardens, three goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the 1st fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the very first five video games are a job best.But after the big initial one-half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers rarely performed everything in the 2nd one-half by means of the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the game plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons often capitalized on K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense submitting 550 backyards of total affront. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in terms of missed confronts however struggled against the Falcons within this division. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a game since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).