.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can easily observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually dealt with the crew considering that 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and also Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers developed early that Thursday night's activity would certainly be actually a repulsive slugfest with both teams racking up goals on their very first belongings, so it seemed fitting the NFC South showdown would be made a decision by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth touchdown of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gotten into the contest after a personal injury to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ended in rule pushed overtime, and Cousins handled the rest as he set a franchise report with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth consent passing goal in the final minute of regulation/OT in the last 5 seasons, which is actually the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, in between winning a division and not, hinges on video games like this one, and also Atlanta georgia possesses presently had its own portion of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the ultimate moment of the 4th one-fourth in each three of their victories this period. They are the first string in NFL past to have three success within their 1st five activities of a period through which they routed in the last minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with impressive next sway New Orleans and Tampa Gulf, Atlanta georgia possesses a very early lead in the NFC South thanks to tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could possibly prove essential in December as well as January in what appears to be a limited division.QB breakdown: Cousins appeared healthy and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 gardens and three goals in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually dominant when he experiences Tampa Gulf-- three of his four profession 100-yard games have come versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise got his first touchdown versus Tampa fl Bay in the first quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney remains to look additional like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate 2 periods with the Bears. He possessed his 1st game with a number of touchdown catches-- in 2021 he possessed a game with a rushing and also getting goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 backyards are actually both near to profession highs for him. He did possess 2 declines, nonetheless, featuring one that can possess confirmed costly.Most astonishing performance: A week after not capturing an elapsed versus New Orleans, strict end Kyle Pitts placed in his ideal analytical activity in virtually a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again emerging as part of Atlanta georgia's offense. His catches and also yards 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 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th touchdown function, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the group to beat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa bay winning the division recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday night, along with it now being actually a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a lot of players it needs to have to acquire healthy and balanced, and also it has 9 days to do it. The Bucs need to find out how to complete, though, with the injustice entirely obstructed in the second fifty percent and inadequate addressing on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, 3 touchdowns-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the very first fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial one-half, with all three touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals through the very first five video games are an occupation best.But after the major first one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly carried out everything in the 2nd half with the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest hole in the game plan: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons repeatedly exploited K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense giving up 550 yards of overall injustice. It took a breakthrough recently against the Eagles in relations to overlooked tackles however struggled against the Falcons within this division. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their most in an activity because Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).