.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the staff since 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers developed very early that Thursday night's video game would be actually an offensive slugfest with both staffs scoring goals on their first possessions, so it appeared suitable the NFC South showdown would be actually decided through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th goal of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had actually entered into the competition after an accident to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity ended in policy pushed overtime, and Relatives took care of the rest as he established a franchise business file with 509 passing lawns to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives scratched his 5th go-ahead 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 difference in between making the playoffs as well as not, between winning a branch as well as certainly not, hinges on games such as this one, as well as Atlanta ga possesses presently possessed its own portion of them.The Falcons have tracked within the ultimate moment of the fourth quarter in each 3 of their victories this season. They are actually the first string in NFL record to have 3 triumphes within their very first 5 activities of a season in which they tracked in the last moment of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with remarkable back-to-back sway New Orleans as well as Tampa Fl Bay, Atlanta georgia has an early top in the NFC South due to sudden deaths over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That can verify crucial in December and also January in what looks a limited division.QB failure: Cousins looked healthy and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 lawns, 4 goals as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 backyards as well as three goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually leading when he deals with Tampa Bay-- 3 of his four occupation 100-yard games have actually come against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He also grabbed his 1st goal against Tampa Bay in the initial quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate two times along with the Bears. He had his first video game along with numerous goal finds-- in 2021 he had an activity along with a rushing and also acquiring goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 yards are both near to career highs for him. He did possess two reduces, nonetheless, featuring one that could possibly possess verified costly.Most shocking efficiency: A full week after certainly not capturing an elapsed versus New Orleans, strict end Kyle Pitts put in his greatest analytical activity in just about a year, getting 7 catches for 88 yards, once again emerging as portion of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches as well as backyards are his very most given that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal celebration, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the crew to beat in the NFC South, even with Tampa fl winning the division recent 3 years. That proved out Thursday evening, using it right now being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a bunch of players it needs to get healthy, and it has 9 times to carry out it. The Bucs must learn exactly how to finish, however, along with the injustice entirely stymied in the 2nd half as well as inadequate addressing on defense.QB malfunction: Cook Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 masquerade 131 lawns, 3 goals-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the 1st fifty percent. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, with all three touchdowns arriving against the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the initial 5 activities are an occupation best.But after the significant initial half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly did anything in the second half through the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest opening in the strategic plan: Along with Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve along with a shoulder accident, the Falcons often exploited K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' protection surrendering 550 backyards of complete offense. It took an advance last week against the Eagles in relations to skipped confronts but resisted the Falcons in this department. The Falcons completed with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in a game considering that Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).