.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You may observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the group since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers set up very early that Thursday evening's video game will be an objectionable slugfest along with both crews racking up goals on their first possessions, so it seemed proper the NFC South face-off would be actually made a decision by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the video game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually entered into the contest after an injury to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in regulation pushed overtime, and Relatives dealt with the rest as he established a franchise document along with 509 passing backyards to remove Atlanta (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his fifth green light passing goal in the last min of regulation/OT in the last 5 times, which is actually the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between making the playoffs and also certainly not, in between gaining a branch as well as certainly not, lies in games like this one, and Atlanta possesses currently possessed its own share of them.The Falcons have routed within the last moment of the 4th quarter with all three of their wins this period. They are the first team in NFL record to possess 3 success within their 1st 5 video games of a time in which they routed in the last minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable back-to-back sway New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta ga has an early lead in the NFC South due to tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That can verify pivotal in December as well as January in what seems a tight division.QB break down: Cousins looked healthy and back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has tossed for 350 lawns and also three touchdowns in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be prevalent when he encounters Tampa florida Gulf-- 3 of his 4 profession 100-yard activities have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally picked up his initial touchdown against Tampa florida Bay in the 1st quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney continues to appear more like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two times with the Bears. He had his 1st game along with various touchdown catches-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a rushing and getting goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 backyards are both near to occupation highs for him. He did have two decreases, however, including one that could possibly have proved costly.Most astonishing functionality: A week after certainly not capturing a pass against New Orleans, strict side Kyle Pitts put in his finest analytical activity in virtually a year, taking hold of 7 catches for 88 lawns, once more becoming portion of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and backyards are his very most since Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal event, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were the staff to trump in the NFC South, even with Tampa florida gaining the division the past 3 years. That proved out Thursday night, using it right now being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a great deal of gamers it requires to receive well-balanced, and it has nine times to carry out it. The Bucs must know exactly how to end up, however, with the offense entirely stymied in the 2nd fifty percent and poor handling on defense.QB breakdown: Cook Mayfield accomplished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 lawns, three touchdowns-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first fifty percent, with all three touchdowns coming against the strike. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the 1st five games are actually a profession best.But after the major first one-half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly did everything in the 2nd half through the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the game plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on wounded reservoir with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons routinely made use of K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 gardens of total injustice. It took a step forward last week versus the Eagles in relations to missed tackles however resisted the Falcons in this particular division. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in an activity because Week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).