.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has covered the crew because 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers established very early that Thursday evening's game would certainly be an outrageous slugfest with both crews scoring touchdowns on their 1st belongings, so it seemed to be right the NFC South face-off will be decided by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had entered the competition after an accident to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ran out in requirement compelled overtime, as well as Relatives cared for the rest as he prepared a franchise business file along with 509 passing lawns to remove Atlanta (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his 5th go-ahead passing touchdown in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the final five times, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between creating the playoffs and not, between gaining a branch as well as certainly not, depends on activities such as this one, and also Atlanta ga has presently possessed its portion of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the final minute of the 4th quarter in each 3 of their triumphes this period. They are actually the first team in NFL past to have three triumphes within their initial five games of a time in which they trailed in the final minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable back-to-back draw New Orleans and Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta georgia possesses a very early lead in the NFC South with the help of tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can confirm essential in December as well as January in what seems a strict division.QB failure: Relatives appeared healthy and balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has actually tossed for 350 backyards and also 3 goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be prevalent when he encounters Tampa fl Bay-- three of his four job 100-yard games have actually arrived versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He additionally got his first goal versus Tampa fl Gulf in the first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney remains to appear even more like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two periods along with the Bears. He possessed his initial activity with multiple goal gets-- in 2021 he had a game with a hurrying and also obtaining goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually both close to occupation highs for him. He carried out have 2 reduces, having said that, featuring one that might possess proved costly.Most surprising performance: A full week after certainly not recording a successfully pass versus New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts invested his best analytical activity in just about a year, getting 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again becoming aspect of Atlanta's offense. His catches and also gardens are his very most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal reception, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa bay succeeding the department the past three years. That proved out Thursday night, from it right now being a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of gamers it needs to receive healthy, as well as it has 9 times to accomplish it. The Bucs must discover how to complete, however, with the injustice completely stymied in the 2nd one-half as well as inadequate dealing with on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, three goals-- 2 to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and 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 touchdowns through the very first 5 activities are a career best.But after the significant first half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely performed anything in the 2nd one-half through the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons regularly capitalized on K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He surrendered an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' self defense surrendering 550 gardens of total affront. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in regards to missed attacks yet struggled against the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons do with 235 gardens after the catch, their very most in a game considering that Week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).