.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Staff WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can easily follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Team WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa fl Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually dealt with the staff considering that 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons as well as Tampa Gulf Buccaneers established very early that Thursday evening's activity would certainly be actually an offensive slugfest with both staffs scoring goals on their very first ownerships, so it seemed to be suitable the NFC South showdown would certainly be decided through a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins threw his 4th goal of the game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gone into the contest after an accident to Drake Greater london, to offer the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ended in policy compelled overtime, and also Cousins cared for the rest as he prepared a franchise business report along with 509 passing backyards to lift Atlanta (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his 5th consent passing touchdown in the ultimate moment of regulation/OT in the last five seasons, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between making the playoffs as well as not, between gaining a division as well as not, lies in activities like this one, and Atlanta ga possesses presently had its share of them.The Falcons have actually routed within the last min of the 4th one-fourth in all three of their wins this time. They are the first string in NFL record to possess three triumphes within their first five activities of a period in which they routed in the final min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with impressive next get New Orleans and also Tampa Florida Bay, Atlanta has an early top in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That might confirm crucial in December and also January in what seems a tight division.QB breakdown: Relatives looked healthy and balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million contract to in the offseason. He accomplished 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has thrown for 350 yards and also 3 touchdowns in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be leading when he faces Tampa florida Gulf-- three of his four profession 100-yard games have actually come versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise got his very first touchdown against Tampa florida Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney continues to look more like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his ultimate pair of seasons along with the Bears. He had his initial video game with several goal gets-- in 2021 he had a game with a rushing and also receiving goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually both near to job highs for him. He carried out have 2 declines, having said that, featuring one that could possess shown costly.Most unusual performance: A week after certainly not catching a successfully pass against New Orleans, tight end Kyle Pitts invested his ideal statistical activity in nearly a year, getting 7 catches for 88 yards, once again becoming part of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches as well as yards are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 gardens on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown 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 actually the crew to beat in the NFC South, despite Tampa florida winning the department the past 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, along with it right now being actually a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf has a great deal of players it requires to get healthy, as well as it has nine times to do it. The Bucs must learn how to finish, however, along with the affront totally stymied in the 2nd one-half and inadequate dealing with on defense.QB failure: Baker Mayfield accomplished 13 of 16 passes for 131 lawns, 3 goals-- pair of to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the very first fifty percent. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the initial half, along with all 3 touchdowns coming against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals by means of the 1st five activities are actually a job best.But after the big 1st half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers hardly carried out anything in the second fifty percent via the sky, totaling 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategic plan: With Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reserve along with a shoulder accident, the Falcons consistently manipulated K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' protection relinquishing 550 yards of overall injustice. It took an advance last week versus the Eagles in regards to missed attacks yet resisted the Falcons within this team. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in a game because Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).