.Michael RothsteinCloseMichael RothsteinESPN Team WriterMichael Rothstein is actually a media reporter for NFL Country at ESPN. Rothstein deals with the Atlanta ga Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein. Jenna LaineCloseJenna LaineESPN Workers WriterJenna Laine covers the Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers for ESPN. She began dealing with the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, yet she has actually covered the staff given that 2009. Adhere To Jenna on Twitter: @JennaLaineESPN. Oct 3, 2024, 11:46 PM ETATLANTA-- The Atlanta Georgia Falcons and also Tampa florida Gulf Buccaneers established early that Thursday night's game will be an objectionable slugfest with both staffs racking up touchdowns on their first properties, so it seemed right the NFC South showdown would be decided by a lengthy TD pass.Kirk Relatives threw his 4th goal of the activity, a 45-yard score to KhaDarel Hodge, that had gotten in the competition after an accident to Drake Greater london, to provide the Falcons a 36-30 overtime victory.Younghoe Koo's 52-yard field goal as opportunity ran out in law forced overtime, and Cousins looked after the remainder as he specified a franchise document along with 509 passing yards to lift Atlanta georgia (3-2) into a tie atop the division.Kirk Relatives marked his 5th consent passing touchdown in the ultimate minute of regulation/OT in the final five times, which is actually the best in the NFL. AP Photo/John BazemoreAtlanta FalconsThe distinction between creating the playoffs and also certainly not, between succeeding a division and also certainly not, lies in games enjoy this one, and Atlanta georgia has presently possessed its own reveal of them.The Falcons have actually tracked within the last min of the fourth one-fourth in every 3 of their victories this season. They are actually the first string in NFL background to have 3 success within their very first 5 games of a season in which they routed in the ultimate moment of the 4th quarter.At 3-2, with dramatic next sway New Orleans as well as Tampa Bay Bay, Atlanta ga possesses a very early top in the NFC South because of tiebreakers over the Saints as well as Buccaneers. That could possibly confirm crucial in December as well as January in what seems a tight division.QB failure: Relatives looked well-balanced as well as back to become the quarterback the Falcons offered a $180 million deal to in the offseason. He completed 42 of 58 masquerade 509 lawns, 4 goals and also 1 interception.It's the 6th time he has actually thrown for 350 backyards as well as 3 goals in a prime-time game, tying Patrick Mahomes and also Peyton Manning, depending on to ESPN Research.Eye-popping stat: Drake Greater london continues to be dominant when he faces Tampa Bay-- three of his four occupation 100-yard activities have actually come versus the Buccaneers, consisting of Thursday's 12-catch, 154-yard efficiency. He additionally got his initial touchdown versus Tampa florida Gulf in the very first quarter.Promising fad: Darnell Mooney continues to appear additional like the receiver he resided in Chicago in 2021 than in his final 2 times with the Bears. He had his initial activity with various goal gets-- in 2021 he had a game along with a rushing and also obtaining goal-- as well as his 9 catches for 105 backyards are actually both near to profession highs for him. He carried out possess two declines, however, consisting of one that could have shown costly.Most unexpected performance: A week after certainly not recording an elapsed versus New Orleans, strict conclusion Kyle Pitts placed in his absolute best statistical game in nearly a year, ordering 7 catches for 88 gardens, once more becoming portion of Atlanta ga's outburst. His catches and also backyards are his very most since Oct. 8, 2023, against Houston, when Pitts had 7 catches for 87 yards on a career-high 11 intendeds.-- Michael RothsteinNext activity: at Carolina Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13) Mike Evans notched his 99th touchdown function, matching him with Don Hutson for 11th-most everlasting. Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesTampa Bay BuccaneersAll summertime long, the Bucs listened to the Falcons were actually the staff to beat in the NFC South, regardless of Tampa fl succeeding the department recent 3 years. That rang true Thursday night, along with it presently being a three-team ethnicity with the Bucs at New Orleans next.Tampa Bay has a lot of players it needs to obtain healthy and balanced, and it has nine times to accomplish it. The Bucs need to find out just how to finish, however, along with the affront entirely obstructed in the 2nd half and bad dealing with on defense.QB breakdown: Baker Mayfield finished 13 of 16 passes for 131 backyards, three touchdowns-- two to pass receiver Mike Evans-- as well as no interceptions in the 1st half. He was blitzed on 7 of 15 dropbacks (47%) in the 1st fifty percent, with all 3 touchdowns arriving versus the blitz. Mayfield's 11 goals with the 1st 5 activities are an occupation best.But after the large very first one-half, Mayfield and also the Buccaneers rarely performed just about anything in the second fifty percent via the air, totaling 49 yards.Biggest gap in the game plan: With Tampa florida linebacker SirVocea Dennis on hurt reservoir along with a shoulder accident, the Falcons consistently manipulated K.J. Britt in insurance coverage. He submitted an 18-yard touchdown to pass receiver Drake Greater london on the opening drive.Surprising performance: The Bucs' defense giving up 550 yards of total injustice. It took a progression last week versus the Eagles in regards to skipped tackles yet struggled against the Falcons in this particular division. The Falcons do with 235 yards after the catch, their most in an activity due to the fact that Week 8 of 2019 against Seat (236 ).-- Jenna LaineNext activity: at New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 13).