.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You may observe him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has dealt with the group since 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers established very early that Thursday night's video game would be actually an offensive slugfest along with both staffs scoring touchdowns on their 1st things, so it seemed fitting the NFC South face-off would be actually decided by a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth goal of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gone into the contest after an accident to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in guideline pushed overtime, and also Cousins dealt with the remainder as he specified a franchise report with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th consent passing touchdown in the last min of regulation/OT in the final five times, which is the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between creating the playoffs as well as certainly not, between succeeding a department as well as not, lies in games such as this one, and Atlanta ga possesses presently possessed its own allotment of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the last moment of the fourth one-fourth in all 3 of their success this season. They are the first team in NFL past to have three success within their very first five games of a time in which they routed in the last min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with significant next sway New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta ga possesses an early top in the NFC South due to sudden deaths over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly verify crucial in December as well as January in what appears to be a limited division.QB malfunction: Cousins appeared well-balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons gave a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 gardens, 4 goals as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has thrown for 350 gardens as well as 3 goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be prevalent when he faces Tampa florida Bay-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard activities have actually come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally got his first touchdown versus Tampa Bay in the 1st quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney continues to look even more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two seasons along with the Bears. He possessed his initial activity along with numerous goal gets-- in 2021 he had an activity with a hurrying and obtaining goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually both near to occupation highs for him. He performed possess 2 drops, however, consisting of one that might have shown costly.Most unusual performance: A week after not catching a pass against New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts invested his finest statistical game in almost a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more emerging as component of Atlanta's outburst. His catches as well as gardens are his most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown event, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the staff to defeat in the NFC South, even with Tampa succeeding the branch the past three years. That proved out Thursday evening, from it right now being actually a three-team race along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a great deal of gamers it needs to obtain healthy and balanced, as well as it possesses 9 days to do it. The Bucs must learn exactly how to end up, however, along with the offense entirely put on hold in the 2nd half as well as unsatisfactory handling on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 gardens, three goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the very first one-half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st fifty percent, along with all 3 touchdowns coming versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals through the initial 5 activities are a profession best.But after the large very first half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely did just about anything in the second half through the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategy: Along with Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons consistently exploited K.J. Britt in protection. He submitted an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' defense giving up 550 gardens of total affront. It took a step forward last week versus the Eagles in regards to skipped attacks yet resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons completed with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a video game given that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).