.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually dealt with the team since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday night's video game would certainly be actually an objectionable slugfest along with both staffs scoring goals on their first belongings, so it appeared fitting the NFC South showdown would certainly be actually decided by a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th touchdown of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had entered the contest after a personal injury to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ended in rule pushed overtime, and Relatives cared for the remainder as he set a franchise record with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th go-ahead passing goal in the final minute of regulation/OT in the last 5 times, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between creating the playoffs and also certainly not, in between winning a department as well as certainly not, depends on video games enjoy this one, and Atlanta ga possesses actually had its own share of them.The Falcons have routed within the ultimate moment of the fourth one-fourth in each three of their victories this period. They are actually the first string in NFL history to have three success within their very first five games of a time in which they trailed in the final moment of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic back-to-back wins over New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta georgia has a very early top in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can confirm crucial in December and also January in what looks a limited division.QB malfunction: Cousins looked well-balanced and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 backyards and also 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 leading when he faces Tampa florida Bay-- three of his 4 occupation 100-yard video games have arrived against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his 1st goal versus Tampa fl Bay in the initial quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to appear even more like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of seasons along with the Bears. He had his very first game along with various goal catches-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a hurrying and obtaining touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually both near career highs for him. He carried out have two decreases, nonetheless, including one that could possibly have shown costly.Most shocking performance: A week after certainly not recording an elapsed against New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts put in his best statistical video game in almost a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 lawns, once again becoming component of Atlanta georgia's offense. His catches as well as backyards are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens 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 reception, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the team to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay gaining the division recent three years. That proved out Thursday evening, with it now being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a ton of players it needs to have to get well-balanced, and also it has nine times to do it. The Bucs must find out exactly how to finish, though, along with the offense fully prevented in the second one-half and poor addressing on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 gardens, three goals-- two 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 very first fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the very first 5 games are an occupation best.But after the big initial one-half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers rarely carried out everything in the 2nd fifty percent via the air, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reservoir with a shoulder injury, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 backyards of total offense. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in regards to overlooked tackles yet struggled against the Falcons in this particular division. The Falcons do with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a video game given that Week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).