.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can easily observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the group because 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening's game would certainly be actually an annoying slugfest with both teams scoring goals on their 1st things, so it appeared suitable the NFC South face-off will be actually chosen by a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten in the contest after an accident to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in regulation forced overtime, and Relatives looked after the rest as he set a franchise business record with 509 passing yards to remove Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth green light passing goal in the ultimate moment of regulation/OT in the last 5 times, which is one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs and certainly not, between succeeding a department and not, lies in activities such as this one, as well as Atlanta possesses already had its own share of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter with all three of their wins this period. They are the first string in NFL past history to possess three triumphes within their very first 5 games of a season in which they trailed in the last min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with dramatic back-to-back gain New Orleans as well as Tampa Florida Gulf, Atlanta ga possesses an early lead in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That might show pivotal in December and January in what seems a limited division.QB failure: Relatives appeared healthy and back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million agreement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has thrown for 350 lawns and three goals in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be leading when he experiences Tampa florida Gulf-- three of his four profession 100-yard games have actually come against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He also picked up his very first touchdown against Tampa florida Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate pair of seasons with the Bears. He possessed his first video game with several touchdown gets-- in 2021 he had a video game along with a rushing and receiving goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 backyards are both near to career highs for him. He carried out possess two declines, nevertheless, including one that could have proved costly.Most surprising performance: A week after not recording a pass versus New Orleans, limited conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his best statistical activity in just about a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again emerging as component of Atlanta georgia's offense. His catches and backyards are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown event, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the crew to trump in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa gaining the branch recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, along with it right now being actually a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a considerable amount of gamers it needs to have to get healthy and balanced, and it has nine times to carry out it. The Bucs need to discover exactly how to finish, though, along with the affront completely stymied in the 2nd fifty percent and inadequate handling on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield completed 13 of 16 masquerade 131 lawns, 3 touchdowns-- 2 to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the initial half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st half, along with all 3 touchdowns coming versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns through the first five activities are actually a profession best.But after the huge first fifty percent, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely carried out everything in the 2nd one-half by means of the air, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategic plan: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons often manipulated K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 gardens of overall offense. It took a progression last week against the Eagles in terms of skipped tackles however resisted the Falcons in this team. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in an activity considering that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).