.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the group considering that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa Gulf Buccaneers developed early that Thursday evening's game would be a repulsive slugfest with both staffs racking up touchdowns on their 1st properties, so it seemed suitable the NFC South face-off will be actually determined through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his 4th goal of the video game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had entered the competition after a personal injury to Drake London, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity expired in regulation compelled overtime, and Relatives handled the remainder as he specified a franchise business record with 509 passing backyards to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his 5th okay passing touchdown in the last minute of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is actually one of the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation between making the playoffs as well as not, between winning a department and also not, hinges on video games like this one, as well as Atlanta ga has presently had its own allotment of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the last moment of the 4th one-fourth in each three of their success this time. They are the first string in NFL past to have 3 victories within their very first five games of a season in which they trailed in the last min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable back-to-back draw New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Gulf, Atlanta georgia has an early top in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That might confirm essential in December as well as January in what looks a strict division.QB malfunction: Cousins appeared healthy and balanced and back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, 4 goals as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 gardens and three touchdowns in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be actually dominant when he deals with Tampa Gulf-- three of his four career 100-yard video games have actually come against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He likewise picked up his initial touchdown against Tampa bay Bay in the first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate pair of seasons with the Bears. He possessed his initial game with multiple touchdown sees-- in 2021 he had a game along with a rushing and acquiring touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually both near occupation highs for him. He did possess two drops, however, including one that might possess confirmed costly.Most shocking performance: A week after not recording a successfully pass against New Orleans, tight side Kyle Pitts invested his finest statistical video game in almost a year, nabbing 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again becoming portion of Atlanta's outburst. His catches and lawns are his very most since Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown reception, tying him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the crew to beat in the NFC South, even with Tampa winning the division recent three years. That rang true Thursday night, from it today being a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a considerable amount of gamers it requires to acquire healthy, and also it possesses 9 times to do it. The Bucs need to learn exactly how to complete, however, along with the injustice totally prevented in the second fifty percent and also poor handling on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield completed 13 of 16 masquerade 131 gardens, 3 goals-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial half, along with all three touchdowns arriving versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals via the initial 5 games are a profession best.But after the huge first half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly performed everything in the 2nd half through the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategy: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on wounded reservoir along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons regularly exploited K.J. Britt in coverage. He submitted an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 yards of total offense. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in terms of missed tackles however resisted the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons finished with 235 gardens after the catch, their most in an activity since Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).