.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can easily follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually covered the crew considering that 2009. Comply With Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Falcons as well as Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday night's game would be an objectionable slugfest along with both teams racking up touchdowns on their initial things, so it seemed right the NFC South showdown would be made a decision through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth touchdown of the activity, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gone into the contest after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time ran out in law compelled overtime, as well as Relatives looked after the remainder as he specified a franchise business document with 509 passing backyards to remove Atlanta (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his fifth okay passing touchdown in the last min of regulation/OT in the last five times, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between creating the playoffs as well as certainly not, in between winning a department and certainly not, depends on video games such as this one, and Atlanta possesses presently possessed its own portion of them.The Falcons have trailed within the last moment of the 4th quarter in every 3 of their success this season. They are actually the first string in NFL past to possess three victories within their very first 5 video games of a time through which they trailed in the final min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable back-to-back wins over New Orleans as well as Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta possesses an early top in the NFC South because of sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could show crucial in December as well as January in what looks a limited division.QB failure: Cousins looked well-balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million agreement to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has thrown for 350 gardens and three touchdowns in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be dominant when he encounters Tampa bay Bay-- 3 of his four career 100-yard video games have come against the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He likewise grabbed his initial goal against Tampa Bay in the first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of periods along with the Bears. He had his initial video game along with various goal sees-- in 2021 he possessed a video game along with a hurrying as well as acquiring touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually both near to occupation highs for him. He carried out possess 2 reduces, having said that, including one that could have verified costly.Most astonishing performance: A week after certainly not capturing a successfully pass versus New Orleans, tight conclusion Kyle Pitts invested his greatest statistical video game in nearly a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again emerging as aspect of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches as well as gardens are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- 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 Gulf BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the crew to trump in the NFC South, in spite of Tampa fl winning the division the past 3 years. That proved out Thursday night, from it now being a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a ton of players it needs to receive healthy, and also it has nine days to perform it. The Bucs have to learn exactly how to complete, however, along with the injustice completely obstructed in the second fifty percent and inadequate handling on defense.QB malfunction: Cook Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 yards, three goals-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, along with all three touchdowns coming versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the 1st 5 games are actually an occupation best.But after the large 1st half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly did just about anything in the second fifty percent by means of the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest gap in the game plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons consistently made use of K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 backyards of total injustice. It took a breakthrough last week versus the Eagles in terms of missed confronts yet resisted the Falcons in this division. The Falcons completed with 235 yards after the catch, their most in a game given that Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).