.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily observe him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the crew due to the fact that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers created early that Thursday night's video game would be a repulsive slugfest with both teams scoring touchdowns on their 1st belongings, so it seemed suitable the NFC South face-off would certainly be determined by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gotten in the contest after a trauma to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in regulation pushed overtime, and also Cousins dealt with the rest as he established a franchise record along with 509 passing gardens to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his fifth green light passing goal in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the final five times, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs and certainly not, between gaining a division and certainly not, depends on activities such as this one, and also Atlanta georgia possesses currently possessed its own allotment of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the final min of the fourth quarter in every three of their success this time. They are the first team in NFL record to possess three success within their initial five games of a time in which they routed in the last moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with impressive back-to-back wins over New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay, Atlanta ga has an early lead in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly show pivotal in December and January in what appears to be a tight division.QB failure: Cousins appeared healthy as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 gardens as well as 3 touchdowns in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually dominant when he experiences Tampa bay Bay-- three of his 4 job 100-yard activities have actually come against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He likewise grabbed his very first goal against Tampa fl Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to appear more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his last two seasons along with the Bears. He possessed his initial activity along with various goal gets-- in 2021 he possessed a video game with a rushing and also receiving touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually both near to job highs for him. He carried out have pair of decreases, nonetheless, consisting of one that could possess verified costly.Most unexpected functionality: A week after certainly not capturing a successfully pass against New Orleans, strict conclusion Kyle Pitts invested his finest analytical video game in nearly a year, getting 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more becoming component of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches as well as lawns are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: 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 enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the group to trump in the NFC South, despite Tampa florida succeeding the branch recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, using it today being actually a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a great deal of players it needs to acquire healthy and balanced, as well as it has 9 times to accomplish it. The Bucs have to find out how to end up, though, along with the injustice fully obstructed in the 2nd fifty percent and also inadequate dealing with on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st half, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals via the very first 5 video games are a profession best.But after the major very first one-half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely performed just about anything in the second half by means of the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest opening in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons often capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 gardens of total offense. It took an advance recently versus the Eagles in relations to overlooked tackles yet struggled against the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons completed with 235 backyards after the catch, their very most in a video game because Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).