.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You may observe him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually dealt with the staff considering that 2009. Observe 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 actually an offensive slugfest along with both teams racking up touchdowns on their 1st properties, so it seemed to be suitable the NFC South showdown would be decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth goal of the game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had 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 basket as opportunity ended in law pushed overtime, and Cousins looked after the rest as he established a franchise file with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his fifth go-ahead passing goal in the final min of regulation/OT in the final five periods, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between creating the playoffs as well as not, between winning a department and also certainly not, hinges on activities like this one, and also Atlanta possesses currently possessed its own reveal of them.The Falcons have routed within the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter in every three of their triumphes this time. They are actually the first string in NFL past history to possess 3 wins within their 1st 5 games of a period through which they routed in the final minute of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with significant next get New Orleans and Tampa Bay, Atlanta has a very early lead in the NFC South due to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can confirm essential in December and January in what looks a limited division.QB breakdown: Relatives looked well-balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 lawns as well as three touchdowns in a prime-time game, matching Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be leading when he experiences Tampa Bay-- 3 of his four career 100-yard games have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally got his initial goal versus Tampa florida Bay in the first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to appear more like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final 2 times with the Bears. He possessed his first video game with numerous goal gets-- in 2021 he possessed a game along with a hurrying and obtaining goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually each near to occupation highs for him. He did possess two reduces, nonetheless, including one that might possess verified costly.Most unexpected efficiency: A full week after certainly not capturing a pass versus New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts placed in his greatest analytical game in nearly a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 lawns, once more emerging as aspect of Atlanta's offense. His catches and also lawns are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards 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 along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa bay succeeding the branch the past three years. That rang true Thursday night, using it today being a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a great deal of gamers it needs to get healthy and balanced, and it has nine times to do it. The Bucs must find out exactly how to finish, though, with the offense completely stymied in the second fifty percent and also inadequate dealing with on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 gardens, three goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the 1st one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st one-half, with all 3 touchdowns arriving against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the 1st 5 activities are actually a profession best.But after the big very first half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers rarely performed just about anything in the 2nd one-half by means of the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategy: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve with a shoulder accident, the Falcons routinely capitalized on K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' self defense surrendering 550 yards of complete affront. It took a progression recently versus the Eagles in terms of overlooked confronts but struggled against the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons completed with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a game since Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).