.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has dealt with the crew since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday evening's video game will be actually a repulsive slugfest with both groups racking up touchdowns on their first things, so it seemed right the NFC South showdown would be chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gone into the contest after a personal injury to Drake London, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in law compelled overtime, and also Relatives took care of the remainder as he specified a franchise business document along with 509 passing lawns to remove Atlanta (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his fifth okay passing touchdown in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the last five times, which is the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between making the playoffs and certainly not, in between winning a department as well as not, lies in video games like this one, and also Atlanta has presently possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have trailed within the last minute of the fourth quarter in each 3 of their triumphes this time. They are the first string in NFL record to have three victories within their initial five video games of a period through which they trailed in the ultimate min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable back-to-back sway New Orleans and also Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta possesses an early top in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could show pivotal in December and January in what seems a strict division.QB break down: Relatives appeared healthy as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has thrown for 350 gardens and 3 goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be prevalent when he faces Tampa bay Bay-- three of his 4 profession 100-yard video games have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his first goal against Tampa florida Bay in the initial quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to appear more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate 2 times along with the Bears. He possessed his initial video game with various touchdown gets-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a rushing and getting goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 lawns are both near to profession highs for him. He carried out have pair of drops, nonetheless, consisting of one that might possess proved costly.Most unexpected efficiency: A full week after certainly not capturing a pass against New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts invested his greatest analytical activity in just about a year, getting 7 catches for 88 yards, once again emerging as part of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and also yards are his very most since 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. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal celebration, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to trump in the NFC South, despite Tampa fl gaining the branch the past three years. That proved out Thursday evening, with it now being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a great deal of players it needs to have to obtain well-balanced, as well as it has nine days to carry out it. The Bucs have to know exactly how to end up, though, along with the affront completely prevented in the 2nd half and unsatisfactory addressing on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, 3 goals-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the first half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st half, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the 1st 5 games are a profession best.But after the huge 1st fifty percent, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers rarely carried out anything in the second half through the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest hole in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on wounded reservoir with a shoulder accident, the Falcons often made use of K.J. Britt in coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 lawns of total affront. It took a step forward recently against the Eagles in relations to missed tackles however struggled against the Falcons in this particular team. The Falcons do with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in a game since Week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).