.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You may observe him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Staff WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has dealt with the group given that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa Gulf Buccaneers created very early that Thursday night's video game would certainly be actually a repulsive slugfest along with both groups scoring touchdowns on their 1st things, so it seemed to be fitting the NFC South face-off would be actually chosen through a long TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his fourth touchdown of the game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gotten into the contest after an injury to Drake London, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity expired in law obliged overtime, and Cousins looked after the rest as he established a franchise record with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) right into a dead heat atop the division.Kirk Relatives notched his fifth permission passing goal in the ultimate min of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between creating the playoffs as well as not, between winning a division as well as certainly not, depends on activities similar to this one, and Atlanta ga possesses actually possessed its own reveal of them.The Falcons have tracked within the final moment of the 4th one-fourth with all three of their triumphes this period. They are the first team in NFL history to have three triumphes within their first 5 activities of a time in which they trailed in the ultimate min of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, along with significant back-to-back draw New Orleans as well as Tampa Gulf, Atlanta has a very early lead in the NFC South because of sudden deaths over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That might prove essential in December and also January in what looks a limited division.QB malfunction: Cousins looked well-balanced as well as back to being the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand arrangement to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 yards, 4 goals and 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually thrown for 350 lawns and also three goals in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes as well as Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be dominant when he deals with Tampa florida Gulf-- 3 of his four job 100-yard games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He also grabbed his initial goal versus Tampa Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to look additional like the receiver he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of times with the Bears. He possessed his initial video game with several goal sees-- in 2021 he possessed a video game along with a rushing and getting touchdown-- and his 9 catches for 105 lawns are each close to profession highs for him. He performed possess two declines, however, including one that might possess shown costly.Most shocking performance: A week after not capturing an elapsed against New Orleans, strict conclusion Kyle Pitts put in his absolute best statistical video game in nearly a year, snatching 7 catches for 88 backyards, once again emerging as portion of Atlanta's offense. His catches and also lawns are his most since Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 aim ats.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans marked his 99th touchdown event, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the group to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa succeeding the department recent three years. That proved out Thursday night, from it now being a three-team nationality with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Gulf possesses a ton of gamers it needs to have to receive well-balanced, as well as it has 9 times to perform it. The Bucs must discover exactly how to finish, though, along with the offense entirely stymied in the 2nd one-half and bad dealing with on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield completed thirteen of 16 passes for 131 gardens, 3 goals-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the very first one-half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first one-half, along with all three touchdowns arriving versus the assault. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the 1st five video games are actually a job best.But after the big very first fifty percent, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers barely did everything in the 2nd one-half through the sky, amounting to 49 yards.Biggest hole in the strategic plan: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reservoir with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons regularly exploited K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He gave up an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 gardens of total affront. It took an advance last week against the Eagles in relations to overlooked attacks yet resisted the Falcons within this department. The Falcons finished with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in an activity since Full week 8 of 2019 against Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen).