.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Personnel WriterMichael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta ga Falcons. You may follow him by means of Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. She started covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, however she has actually dealt with the staff since 2009. Observe Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and Tampa fl Gulf Buccaneers established very early that Thursday night's activity would certainly be actually an offending slugfest along with both teams racking up goals on their first belongings, so it appeared proper the NFC South face-off will be actually determined through a long TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th touchdown of the game, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gotten into 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 opportunity expired in requirement compelled overtime, as well as Relatives handled the remainder as he established a franchise business file along with 509 passing gardens to remove Atlanta (3-2) in to a tie atop the division.Kirk Cousins notched his fifth okay passing touchdown in the final min of regulation/OT in the last five seasons, which is the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction in between making the playoffs and also not, in between winning a branch and also certainly not, hinges on video games enjoy this one, as well as Atlanta ga possesses presently had its own portion of them.The Falcons have actually trailed within the last minute of the fourth one-fourth in all 3 of their victories this time. They are actually the first team in NFL history to have 3 success within their very first 5 video games of a time through which they routed in the final minute of the fourth quarter.At 3-2, with significant back-to-back wins over New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay, Atlanta has a very early lead in the NFC South thanks to sudden deaths over the Saints and Buccaneers. That could show pivotal in December and January in what looks a strict division.QB breakdown: Relatives looked well-balanced and also back to being the quarterback the Falcons provided a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 gardens, 4 touchdowns and also 1 interception.It's the sixth opportunity he has tossed for 350 backyards as well as 3 touchdowns in a prime-time video game, tying Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning, according to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake London continues to be actually dominant when he faces Tampa fl Bay-- three of his 4 career 100-yard games have arrived versus the Buccaneers, including Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard performance. He also grabbed his very first touchdown versus Tampa florida Gulf in the 1st quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to look additional like the recipient he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final 2 periods with the Bears. He possessed his 1st game with a number of touchdown sees-- in 2021 he possessed an activity with a rushing and also getting touchdown-- and also his 9 catches for 105 yards are actually each near occupation highs for him. He did possess 2 reduces, nevertheless, featuring one that can possess confirmed costly.Most unusual functionality: A week after certainly not capturing an elapsed against New Orleans, strict side Kyle Pitts invested his greatest statistical activity in just about a year, getting 7 catches for 88 lawns, once again becoming aspect of Atlanta georgia's offense. His catches and also yards are his very most considering that Oct. 8, 2023, versus Houston, when Pitts possessed 7 catches for 87 yards 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 touchdown function, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summer season long, the Bucs heard the Falcons were actually the crew to defeat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa bay succeeding the branch recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday evening, from it presently being a three-team race with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay possesses a ton of players it needs to have to acquire healthy, and it possesses nine times to do it. The Bucs must know exactly how to end up, however, along with the affront completely put on hold in the second one-half and unsatisfactory addressing on defense.QB failure: Cook Mayfield completed 13 of 16 passes for 131 gardens, 3 touchdowns-- 2 to pass receiver Mike Evans-- and no interceptions in the first half. He was actually blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the very first half, with all three touchdowns arriving against the assault. Mayfield's 11 goals via the initial five activities are an occupation best.But after the huge 1st fifty percent, Mayfield and the Buccaneers hardly did everything in the second one-half through the air, completing 49 yards.Biggest gap in the tactical plan: With Tampa linebacker SirVocea Dennis on damaged reserve with a shoulder accident, the Falcons consistently manipulated K.J. Britt in protection. He surrendered an 18-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake Greater london on the position drive.Surprising functionality: The Bucs' defense surrendering 550 lawns of overall affront. It took a progression last week against the Eagles in regards to overlooked confronts but resisted the Falcons in this team. The Falcons do with 235 backyards after the catch, their most in a game since Week 8 of 2019 versus Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).