.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can observe him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the crew considering that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday night's game would certainly be actually an outrageous slugfest along with both crews scoring touchdowns on their first possessions, so it appeared proper the NFC South face-off would certainly be actually determined through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives tossed his 4th touchdown of the game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gotten into the contest after a trauma to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ended in law obliged overtime, and Relatives took care of the remainder as he set a franchise file along with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his 5th consent passing touchdown in the last minute of regulation/OT in the last five times, which is the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs and also not, in between succeeding a branch and not, depends on video games similar to this one, as well as Atlanta has presently possessed its own allotment of them.The Falcons have tracked within the last min of the fourth quarter in every 3 of their triumphes this season. They are actually the first string in NFL record to have three wins within their very first 5 activities of a season in which they trailed in the ultimate moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with remarkable back-to-back wins over New Orleans and also Tampa Bay, Atlanta ga has an early top in the NFC South with the help of sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could possibly verify crucial in December as well as January in what looks a limited division.QB break down: Cousins looked well-balanced and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 thousand deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the sixth time he has thrown for 350 gardens and also 3 goals in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be actually dominant when he faces Tampa bay Bay-- three of his 4 career 100-yard games have come versus the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He also got his first touchdown against Tampa bay Gulf in the first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final pair of times along with the Bears. He had his initial activity with several goal catches-- in 2021 he possessed an activity along with a rushing and also acquiring goal-- and also his 9 catches for 105 yards are both near to profession highs for him. He did possess pair of drops, nonetheless, consisting of one that could have verified costly.Most shocking efficiency: A week after not catching a pass versus New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts invested his absolute best analytical game in practically a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again emerging as part of Atlanta georgia's outburst. His catches and gardens are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal event, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the team to beat in the NFC South, even with Tampa winning the branch recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, from it presently being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a lot of gamers it requires to get healthy, and it has nine times to do it. The Bucs have to learn exactly how to complete, however, with the affront entirely put on hold in the 2nd one-half as well as poor tackling on defense.QB break down: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 yards, three touchdowns-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the first fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns arriving against the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns with the initial 5 games are a job best.But after the big very first fifty percent, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely did everything in the second fifty percent by means of the air, completing 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons consistently capitalized on K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' self defense submitting 550 yards of complete offense. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in terms of missed out on confronts but struggled against the Falcons in this particular department. The Falcons finished with 235 yards after the catch, their most in an activity considering that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).