.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a press reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta georgia Falcons. You can easily follow him through Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Personnel WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has actually dealt with the team given that 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa bay Bay Buccaneers established early that Thursday night's activity would certainly be actually an outrageous slugfest along with both groups racking up touchdowns on their 1st ownerships, so it seemed right the NFC South face-off will be actually made a decision by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Cousins tossed his fourth touchdown of the video game, a 45-yard rating to KhaDarel Hodge, who had gotten in the competition after a trauma to Drake Greater london, to give the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in regulation compelled overtime, and Relatives took care of the rest as he established a franchise business record along with 509 passing lawns to lift Atlanta ga (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins marked his fifth consent passing touchdown in the last min of regulation/OT in the final 5 times, which is the absolute most in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe variation in between creating the playoffs and certainly not, in between gaining a department and not, depends on games enjoy this one, and Atlanta georgia possesses actually possessed its allotment of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the final min of the 4th quarter with all 3 of their victories this season. They are actually the first string in NFL past history to possess three success within their 1st five games of a season in which they trailed in the final min of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, along with dramatic next draw New Orleans as well as Tampa Gulf, Atlanta georgia possesses a very early top in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could possibly verify pivotal in December and also January in what seems a tight division.QB malfunction: Cousins looked well-balanced and also back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 passes for 509 backyards, 4 touchdowns as well as 1 interception.It's the 6th opportunity he has actually tossed for 350 gardens and also 3 goals in a prime-time activity, matching Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London remains to be dominant when he encounters Tampa Bay-- three of his four job 100-yard activities have actually arrived against the Buccaneers, featuring Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He likewise picked up his very first goal versus Tampa bay Bay in the initial quarter.Promising style: Darnell Mooney remains to appear more like the recipient he remained in Chicago in 2021 than in his final two periods with the Bears. He possessed his 1st game with multiple goal catches-- in 2021 he possessed a game along with a hurrying and also acquiring touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 lawns are actually both near career highs for him. He did possess two drops, however, including one that might possess proved costly.Most unexpected efficiency: A week after certainly not catching a pass versus New Orleans, strict end Kyle Pitts invested his finest statistical video game in practically a year, getting hold of 7 catches for 88 backyards, once more becoming part of Atlanta's offense. His catches and gardens are his most due to the fact that Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 lawns on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext video game: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. thirteen) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown celebration, tying him along with Don Hutson for 11th-most all-time. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Gulf BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the group to defeat in the NFC South, despite Tampa fl succeeding the division the past 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, using it presently being a three-team ethnicity along with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a ton of gamers it needs to have to get well-balanced, as well as it has 9 times to carry out it. The Bucs need to learn how to end up, however, with the offense entirely prevented in the second fifty percent and also inadequate addressing on defense.QB break down: Baker Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, 3 touchdowns-- two to wide receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the initial half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the first fifty percent, along with all three touchdowns arriving against the blitz. Mayfield's 11 touchdowns by means of the 1st five games are actually an occupation best.But after the big initial half, Mayfield as well as the Buccaneers rarely carried out everything in the second one-half via the air, totting 49 yards.Biggest gap in the strategic plan: Along with Tampa bay linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reservoir along with a shoulder trauma, the Falcons routinely manipulated K.J. Britt in coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London on the position drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense relinquishing 550 backyards of overall affront. It took a step forward last week versus the Eagles in relations to skipped tackles yet resisted the Falcons within this team. The Falcons do with 235 lawns after the catch, their very most in a game because Full week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext game: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).