.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the staff due to the fact that 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa Gulf Buccaneers created early that Thursday night's activity would be actually an annoying slugfest with both teams racking up touchdowns on their first possessions, so it appeared proper the NFC South face-off would certainly be decided through a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his fourth touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard credit rating to KhaDarel Hodge, that had entered the competition after a personal injury to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as time expired in law obliged overtime, and also Relatives handled the remainder as he specified a franchise file along with 509 passing lawns to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth consent passing goal in the last min of regulation/OT in the last five periods, which is actually the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between making the playoffs as well as certainly not, in between gaining a branch as well as not, depends on games such as this one, and Atlanta ga has presently had its allotment of them.The Falcons have routed within the ultimate minute of the 4th one-fourth in each three of their triumphes this season. They are actually the first team in NFL past to have three success within their very first 5 games of a time in which they routed in the ultimate minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with significant back-to-back gain New Orleans and Tampa Gulf, Atlanta ga has a very early lead in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could possibly prove crucial in December as well as January in what looks a tight division.QB breakdown: Cousins appeared well-balanced and back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand agreement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has tossed for 350 backyards and also 3 goals in a prime-time video game, matching Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be dominant when he experiences Tampa florida Gulf-- 3 of his 4 occupation 100-yard video games have arrived against the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard functionality. He also grabbed his very first touchdown against Tampa florida Gulf in the initial quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney continues to appear additional like the recipient he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two times along with the Bears. He possessed his initial game along with various goal gets-- in 2021 he had a video game with a rushing as well as getting goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 backyards are each near career highs for him. He performed have pair of drops, however, consisting of one that could possibly possess verified costly.Most shocking performance: A week after not catching a pass against New Orleans, limited end Kyle Pitts placed in his finest statistical activity in almost a year, getting hold of 7 catches for 88 lawns, once more becoming aspect of Atlanta ga's offense. His catches and lawns are his very most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 backyards on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans marked his 99th goal function, tying 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 the crew to beat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa fl gaining the department recent three years. That proved out Thursday night, along with it now being actually a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of gamers it requires to obtain healthy, as well as it has nine times to do it. The Bucs need to discover exactly how to finish, though, along with the injustice completely put on hold in the second half and also poor dealing with on defense.QB breakdown: Cook Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the 1st one-half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals via the initial five activities are actually a job best.But after the major first one-half, Mayfield and the Buccaneers barely carried out just about anything in the second half by means of the sky, completing 49 yards.Biggest hole in the game plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve along with a shoulder personal injury, the Falcons consistently exploited K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense submitting 550 yards of overall affront. It took a step forward recently against the Eagles in terms of missed out on attacks but struggled against the Falcons in this team. The Falcons finished with 235 lawns after the catch, their very most in an activity since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).