.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the staff due to the fact that 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons as well as Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening's video game would be an offending slugfest along with both teams scoring goals on their initial ownerships, so it seemed to be right the NFC South face-off would be determined by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his 4th touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gotten in the contest after an accident to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ran out in law pushed overtime, and Relatives took care of the rest as he established a franchise business record with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his 5th permission passing touchdown in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between creating the playoffs and also certainly not, in between gaining a department and not, lies in video games similar to this one, and Atlanta ga possesses already had its own portion of them.The Falcons have routed within the final min of the fourth one-fourth with all 3 of their wins this period. They are the first team in NFL record to possess three victories within their first five activities of a period in which they trailed in the final moment of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable next get New Orleans and Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta possesses a very early top in the NFC South due to sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That can confirm critical in December and January in what appears to be a limited division.QB malfunction: Relatives appeared well-balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has actually tossed for 350 backyards and also 3 goals in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be actually dominant when he experiences Tampa florida Gulf-- 3 of his 4 profession 100-yard video games have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He additionally got his initial touchdown against Tampa fl Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate 2 periods with the Bears. He had his very first video game along with several goal sees-- in 2021 he possessed a game with a rushing and also acquiring goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually each near occupation highs for him. He carried out have 2 decreases, however, including one that could have proved costly.Most surprising performance: A full week after certainly not catching a pass against New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts invested his absolute best analytical video game in almost a year, getting 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more emerging as part of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches and also gardens are his most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal reception, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the staff to defeat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa bay gaining the department recent three years. That rang true Thursday night, along with it right now being actually a three-team race along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a considerable amount of gamers it needs to acquire healthy, and it possesses 9 times to carry out it. The Bucs have to know how to complete, however, with the offense fully stymied in the second half and also bad addressing on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 gardens, 3 touchdowns-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first one-half, along with all 3 touchdowns arriving against the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the initial 5 games are a career best.But after the significant very first one-half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers barely did anything in the 2nd fifty percent with the air, completing 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons consistently capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 backyards of overall injustice. It took an advance last week against the Eagles in relations to skipped confronts however resisted the Falcons in this team. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in an activity due to the fact that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).