.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You may follow him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has covered the team because 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa Bay Buccaneers set up early that Thursday night's activity would be actually an offensive slugfest along with both teams scoring touchdowns on their first belongings, so it appeared proper the NFC South face-off will be actually determined through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his 4th touchdown of the game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had actually gotten in the competition after an injury to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in policy compelled overtime, and also Relatives dealt with the rest as he specified a franchise business record along with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth consent passing goal in the last minute of regulation/OT in the final five seasons, which is actually the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference in between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, in between winning a division and also certainly not, depends on activities similar to this one, as well as Atlanta georgia possesses already possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have routed within the final minute of the 4th one-fourth in every 3 of their triumphes this period. They are the first team in NFL record to possess 3 success within their initial 5 games of a period in which they trailed in the final moment of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable next draw New Orleans and Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta ga has a very early lead in the NFC South because of sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That can show critical in December and January in what appears to be a tight division.QB malfunction: Cousins appeared healthy and balanced and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million agreement to in the offseason. He finished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has actually tossed for 350 lawns and also 3 touchdowns in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be prevalent when he encounters Tampa florida Bay-- three of his 4 occupation 100-yard games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He likewise picked up his initial goal versus Tampa Bay in the first quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney remains to look additional like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two seasons along with the Bears. He possessed his initial activity with a number of goal finds-- in 2021 he possessed a video game along with a hurrying and acquiring touchdown-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 gardens are actually each near to career highs for him. He performed have 2 reduces, however, featuring one that could possess proved costly.Most unexpected functionality: A full week after certainly not recording a successfully pass against New Orleans, strict side Kyle Pitts put in his ideal statistical game in practically a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 yards, once more emerging as portion of Atlanta's outburst. His catches and gardens are his most given that Oct. 8, 2023, versus 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 scratched his 99th goal function, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer months long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa bay gaining the division recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, with it presently being a three-team nationality along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a ton of gamers it needs to get well-balanced, and it possesses 9 days to perform it. The Bucs have to discover exactly how to finish, though, with the affront fully prevented in the second fifty percent and also poor dealing with on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 yards, three goals-- pair of to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the 1st half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial half, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals via the initial five video games are a job best.But after the big 1st one-half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly performed just about anything in the 2nd fifty percent through the air, totting 49 yards.Biggest hole in the tactical plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on wounded reserve along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons often made use of K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection giving up 550 lawns of overall offense. It took an advance recently versus the Eagles in regards to skipped attacks however resisted the Falcons in this team. The Falcons completed with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in an activity considering that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).