.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You may follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually dealt with the group because 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers created early that Thursday evening's activity would be actually an outrageous slugfest with both teams racking up touchdowns on their very first possessions, so it appeared proper the NFC South face-off would certainly be actually chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his fourth touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gone into the contest after an accident to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in requirement pushed overtime, and also Cousins looked after the rest as he prepared a franchise file with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his fifth permission passing touchdown in the final min of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between creating the playoffs as well as certainly not, in between gaining a department as well as not, depends on video games similar to this one, as well as Atlanta georgia has already possessed its own allotment of them.The Falcons have trailed within the last moment of the 4th one-fourth in all 3 of their wins this period. They are actually the first team in NFL background to possess three triumphes within their 1st 5 games of a period through which they trailed in the ultimate minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable back-to-back gain New Orleans and also Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta georgia has an early top in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could possibly show essential in December and January in what looks a limited division.QB malfunction: Relatives appeared healthy as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million arrangement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has tossed for 350 gardens as well as three goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa florida Gulf-- 3 of his 4 profession 100-yard video games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise got his first touchdown against Tampa fl Bay in the initial quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to appear additional like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two periods along with the Bears. He had his first activity along with multiple goal finds-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a rushing and acquiring goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually both close to occupation highs for him. He carried out possess 2 decreases, however, including one that can possess verified costly.Most shocking performance: A week after not capturing a pass against New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts put in his best statistical activity in almost a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 yards, once again emerging as portion of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches as well as lawns are his very most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: 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 months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the staff to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay winning the branch the past 3 years. That rang true Thursday evening, from it right now being actually a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a ton of gamers it requires to obtain healthy, as well as it has nine days to accomplish it. The Bucs must discover just how to complete, though, with the affront completely put on hold in the second one-half and inadequate handling on defense.QB malfunction: Cook Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, three goals-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the 1st one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, with all three touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the initial five games are actually a career best.But after the significant 1st half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely performed everything in the second one-half with the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategic plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reservoir with a shoulder accident, the Falcons consistently exploited K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' protection submitting 550 lawns of total affront. It took a breakthrough recently against the Eagles in regards to overlooked tackles but resisted the Falcons within this team. The Falcons completed with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in an activity because Week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).