.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Workers WriterMichael Rothstein is a media reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta Falcons. You can observe him using Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine deals with the Tampa bay Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually covered the team since 2009. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers set up very early that Thursday evening's game would be actually an outrageous slugfest with both crews scoring goals on their very first things, so it seemed to be suitable the NFC South face-off would certainly be chosen by a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his fourth touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gotten in the competition after an injury to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard basket as time ended in regulation compelled overtime, as well as Relatives took care of the remainder as he established a franchise business document along with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta ga (3-2) right into a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins scratched his 5th permission passing touchdown in the final min of regulation/OT in the last 5 periods, which is actually the most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe difference between making the playoffs and certainly not, in between winning a division and certainly not, lies in activities like this one, and also Atlanta possesses currently possessed its own portion of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the last moment of the fourth one-fourth with all three of their victories this time. They are actually the first team in NFL past to have 3 wins within their 1st five activities of a period in which they routed in the ultimate min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic back-to-back draw New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta georgia possesses a very early top in the NFC South due to tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could possibly confirm crucial in December as well as January in what appears to be a limited division.QB breakdown: Relatives looked healthy and balanced and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 thousand contract to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has thrown for 350 lawns and three touchdowns in a prime-time activity, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be actually dominant when he faces Tampa florida Bay-- 3 of his 4 job 100-yard video games have come versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally picked up his 1st goal versus Tampa florida Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising pattern: Darnell Mooney remains to appear additional like the receiver he was in Chicago in 2021 than in his last pair of seasons along with the Bears. He had his initial activity along with a number of touchdown gets-- in 2021 he possessed a game with a hurrying as well as getting goal-- and his 9 catches for 105 lawns are both close to job highs for him. He carried out have pair of decreases, nevertheless, consisting of one that could possibly have proved costly.Most astonishing performance: A week after not capturing a successfully pass versus New Orleans, limited side Kyle Pitts placed in his best statistical activity in nearly a year, grabbing 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more becoming part of Atlanta's outburst. His catches and also gardens are his very most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 targets.-- Michael RothsteinNext game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans scratched his 99th goal reception, matching him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were the staff to beat in the NFC South, even with Tampa bay gaining the branch the past three years. That rang true Thursday night, using it today being actually a three-team race along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a considerable amount of gamers it requires to receive healthy, as well as it has 9 times to accomplish it. The Bucs need to know exactly how to finish, though, along with the affront fully obstructed in the 2nd one-half and bad tackling on defense.QB malfunction: Cook Mayfield finished 13 of 16 masquerade 131 backyards, 3 goals-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and also no interceptions in the very first half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns coming versus the strike. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns via the first 5 games are actually a profession best.But after the huge first half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers hardly carried out just about anything in the second one-half with the sky, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: With Tampa fl linebacker SirVocea Dennis on harmed reserve with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons routinely manipulated K.J. Britt in coverage. He relinquished an 18-yard goal to wide receiver Drake London on the opening drive.Surprising efficiency: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 yards of overall affront. It took a step forward last week against the Eagles in terms of overlooked confronts yet resisted the Falcons within this team. The Falcons completed with 235 yards after the catch, their very most in an activity due to the fact that Full week 8 of 2019 versus Seattle (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext video game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).