.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually dealt with the crew since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Ga Falcons and also Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers set up early that Thursday evening's game would be an offensive slugfest with both groups scoring touchdowns on their first things, so it appeared suitable the NFC South face-off will be actually chosen by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth goal of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gone into the competition after a personal injury to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as opportunity expired in guideline pushed overtime, and Cousins took care of the rest as he specified a franchise business record with 509 passing gardens to lift Atlanta (3-2) into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his fifth okay passing goal in the final min of regulation/OT in the last 5 times, which is the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between creating the playoffs and certainly not, between succeeding a branch and also certainly not, lies in video games enjoy this one, and Atlanta has presently possessed its reveal of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the last moment of the fourth quarter with all 3 of their success this period. They are actually the first string in NFL past history to have 3 victories within their first 5 games of a period in which they routed in the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with significant back-to-back get New Orleans and Tampa Gulf, Atlanta georgia has a very early lead in the NFC South because of sudden deaths over the Saints and also Buccaneers. That could possibly verify crucial in December and also January in what appears to be a strict division.QB failure: Relatives looked healthy and balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million agreement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has tossed for 350 lawns and three touchdowns in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london remains to be prevalent when he experiences Tampa bay Bay-- 3 of his four career 100-yard games have actually arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He additionally grabbed his 1st goal versus Tampa bay Gulf in the first quarter.Promising trend: Darnell Mooney remains to look additional like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final 2 times along with the Bears. He possessed his initial game with multiple goal catches-- in 2021 he had a video game with a hurrying as well as getting touchdown-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 gardens are actually both close to job highs for him. He performed have pair of declines, nevertheless, consisting of one that could have proved costly.Most unusual functionality: A week after not catching a pass against New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts placed in his absolute best statistical activity in just about a year, getting 7 catches for 88 gardens, once again emerging as part of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and lawns are his most given that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th goal celebration, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most enduring. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the crew to defeat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa winning the department recent three years. That rang true Thursday evening, with it right now being a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a bunch of gamers it requires to acquire healthy, and it possesses nine times to carry out it. The Bucs have to know how to finish, however, with the injustice completely prevented in the 2nd one-half and bad tackling on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield finished thirteen of 16 passes for 131 lawns, 3 touchdowns-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the 1st half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first one-half, with all 3 touchdowns coming against the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the first 5 video games are a job best.But after the big very first one-half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly carried out everything in the second fifty percent by means of the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest opening in the tactical plan: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reservoir along with a shoulder injury, the Falcons consistently made use of K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 backyards of complete injustice. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in relations to skipped confronts however resisted the Falcons within this department. The Falcons do with 235 lawns after the catch, their most in an activity due to the fact that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).